Shahkur Ullah Durrani

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Shahkur Ullah Durrani (S.U. Durrani) is an Afghan/Pakistani International Banker and Entrepreneur originally from the Pashtun Popalzai tribe. This tribe is a branch of the Sadozai line of Ahmad Shah Durrani, who was the first royal in Afghanistan's history after its formation in the 18th century.

Durrani was Born in Sheikh Kali, an Afghan settlement in Charsada, NWFP, British India during the 1920s. Although not much is known about his youth, he was the son of a military man; a soldier who fought in the Mesopatamian Regiment either for the Axis or Allies during World War 1. It is known that S.U. Durrani was an officer in the Pakistani Army and served in their special forces accomplishing the grueling, infamous Gurkan expedition. He was also a brilliant student and topped his classes at the University of Peshawer earning a degree in Economics. Sometime in the 40's, as a young man, he arrived in London, Britain where he began work in a junior position at Lloyds Bank. S.U. Durrani was charismatic and sharp, he rapidly rose in rank and still in his twenties become the first non British instructor at Lloyds Bank.

Amongst many notable achievements he is co-founder of Royal Jordanian Airlines and Orix leasing (the Japanese Leasing Corporation.). He served as President of PIA ( Pakistan International Airlines) during which, he performed the largest transfer of troops since WW2 to East Pakistan (modern Bangladesh).

He served as Governor of the Central Bank in Pakistan, but this only lasted a short time as he was imprisoned during Bhuto's regime/government eventually being rescued by the then US administration. After his release he was launched into a high profile career as an Investment banker in Manhattan, New York which turned out to be the highlight of his career and fame.

For a Pashtun from Charsadda, he had risen to quite a status back home, to which he later returned and took on a number of projects aimed at helping the Pashtuns and many Pakistanis (employments, funding humanitarian projects, development and charities). These projects include, a fructose factory and Fort Ceramics; one of the largest in output of Italian style tiles and functional ceramics in Asia (at the time). He worked with and made good friends with Henry Kissinger and helped orchestrate the inauguration between Mao Zedong and Richard M. Nixon.^{[citation needed]}