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Najam Sethi Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated September 29, 2026 • 6 min read

Quick Info

Date of birth20 May 1948

Age74 Years

BirthplaceKasur, Punjab, Pakistan

ProfessionJournalist, Businessman

NationalityPakistani

Marital statusMarried

SpouseJugnu Mohsin

FamilySon - Ali Sethi; Daughter - Mira Sethi

Najam Sethi Biography

Najam Sethi is a Pakistani journalist, publisher and media figure who has held prominent roles in both journalism and cricket administration. Born in Kasur

Early life and background

Najam Aziz Sethi was born on 20 May 1948 in Kasur, Punjab, Pakistan. He attended St. Anthony High School in Lahore and continued his higher education at Government College University, Lahore, before travelling to England to study at the University of Cambridge. He completed a master’s degree in economics at Cambridge and later earned a PhD in 1972.

Career

Sethi built a multifaceted career as a journalist, publisher and media entrepreneur. In 1978 he started a publishing house, Vanguard Books, which later published politically significant works. In 1989 he and his wife, Jugnu Mohsin, launched an independent English-language weekly, The Friday Times. He went on to found the Daily Times of Pakistan in 2002 and served as its editor until 2009. Between 1990 and 2008 he was the Pakistan correspondent for The Economist.

His work has been recognised with several honours. In 1999 he received the International Press Freedom Award from the Committee to Protect Journalists. The World Association of Newspapers presented him with the Golden Pen of Freedom in 2009, and in 2011 he was awarded the Hilal-i-Imtiaz by the President of Pakistan.

Sethi’s career has also included roles in public service and broadcasting. He was chosen as caretaker Chief Minister of Punjab for the 2013 general election period, serving from 26 March until 6 June 2013. In 2013 he was appointed interim chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board; he later served again as PCB chairman after being elected by the prime minister’s office on 21 December 2022. He resigned from the PCB chairmanship in 2018 after a change in national government.

On television, Sethi has worked as a host of current affairs programming; in 2014 he hosted the primetime show Aapas ki Baat on Geo News. He was also associated with AAP Media Network/Indus News, serving as its president until 2018. In 2015 he was included on a shortlist for the presidency of the International Cricket Council (ICC).

Public profile

Sethi’s journalism and publishing work have often placed him at the centre of political controversies. He left studies in London in the 1970s to return to Pakistan amid unrest in Balochistan and was arrested in 1975 for his involvement with left-leaning activism. In 1999 he was arrested by Punjab police in connection with comments and an interview about government corruption; he was detained for nearly a month before the Supreme Court permitted his release. That same period brought international attention to his case from organisations such as Amnesty International and the Committee to Protect Journalists.

His publishing ventures have also been the focus of disputes. A prominent controversy involved the 1991 publication of My Feudal Lord by Tehmina Durrani, which was released by Vanguard Books and later became the subject of public allegations and legal actions.

Sethi has received threats for his editorial positions, including death threats in 2008 related to pieces on religious extremism and associated events. He has operated under heightened security at times because of those threats.

Family

Najam Sethi is married to journalist Jugnu Mohsin. The couple have two children: son Ali Sethi, known as a singer, and daughter Mira Sethi, who works as an actress.

Latest updates

Sethi was elected chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board on 21 December 2022 by a decision of the prime minister’s office, replacing the previous chairman. His earlier resignation from the PCB took place in 2018 after a change in government. Across decades, he has continued to move between roles in media, publishing and cricket administration, remaining a visible figure in Pakistan’s public life.

Physical profile

Najam Sethi’s height is listed as approximately 173 cm (about 5 feet 8 inches). His eye colour is recorded as black and his hair as greying and semi-bald.
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Recent Work

Chairman, Pakistan Cricket Board

Elected chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board by the prime minister’s office on 21 December 2022; previously served as PCB chairman and resigned in 2018.

2022
Host, Aapas ki Baat (Geo News)

Hosted a primetime current affairs programme on Geo News in 2014.

2014
Founder and Editor, Daily Times of Pakistan

Founded the Daily Times in 2002 and served as its editor until 2009.

2002
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Career Highlights

  1. Founder of Vanguard Books (1978) and The Friday Times (1989)
  2. Pakistan correspondent for The Economist (1990–2008)
  3. Caretaker Chief Minister of Punjab (26 March–6 June 2013)
  4. Multiple awards including the International Press Freedom Award (1999), Golden Pen of Freedom (2009) and Hilal-i-Imtiaz (2011)
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Frequently Asked Questions

When was Najam Sethi born?

20 May 1948

What is Najam Sethi known for?

Journalist, Businessman

What is Najam Sethi’s marital status?

Married

Who is Najam Sethi married to?

Jugnu Mohsin