In the memory of Manzoor Hayat Noon

Malik Manzoor Hayat Noon, 75, son of former Prime Minister Sir Malik Firoz Khan Noon, leading businessman and a member of a prominent political family, died in Karachi on the May 18, 2011. He passed away at the Agha Khan Hospital after returning from abroad where he was being treated for his protracted illness. He was laid to rest in his native village Nurpur Noon situated near Bhalwal in Sargodha District.
Malik Manzoor Hayat Noon hailed from one of the distinguished families of the country. He was the son of Malik Sir Firoz Khan Noon, who served in the Viceroy’s Council of India, the War Cabinet of Prime Minister Winston Churchill and served on other posts before independence. Firoz Khan Noon also played a role in the independence movement for Pakistan. After the creation of Pakistan, he was elected Prime Minister of Pakistan in 1958. Firoz Khan Noon’s achievements include negotiating the return of Gwadar to Pakistan from Oman and adding territory to East Pakistan (Bangladesh) from India during his tenure.
Following the footsteps of his father and grandfather, he joined politics in Pakistan. He came in the political limelight when he became a member of the Majlis-e-Shoora in the government of General Zia-ul-Haq. His brother, Malik Nur Hayat Noon has served as Federal Minister in several successive governments. His participation in the politics was for a brief period and following that, he dedicated himself to various social causes including SOS Village and World Wildlife Fund apart from looking after his businesses.
Begum Viqar-un-Nisa Noon, wife of Maik Firoz Khan Noon, remained a notable social worker. After independence, she rendered her services in the rehabilitation of refugees and was connected with the ‘Red Cross’ for many years. Apart from serving as a Federal Minister and Ambassodor, she set up colleges for women in Dhaka and Rawalpindi and was awarded Nishan-I Imtiaz in 1959. She died on 16 January 2000.
The Noon family is running the Noon Educational Foundation which was established in 1992 by Lady Viqarunnissa Noon to support scholars from Pakistan to study at leading universities in the UK.
The Noon family has several businesses including Nurpur Foods, Noon Sugar Mills and Noon Pakistan Limited. The deceased is survived by two sons and one daughter including Adnan Hayat Noon, Salman Hayat Noon and Naila Tiwana.
Son of Malik Manzoor Hayat Noon, Malik Adnan Hayat Noon, had been active in the political arena and was elected to the National Assembly of Pakistan in 1997 at the age of 26, which made him the youngest member in the parliament. Talking to Pakistan Today, Adnan Noon said that his father continued the legacy of the Noon family through his charitable, political and business ventures.