Syed Athar Hussain Zaidi was born on March 16, 1934, in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India. His family originally hailed from Bharatpur, Rajasthan. After the partition of India in 1947, his family migrated to Pakistan, a difficult transition that shaped much of his life.
In 1960, he completed his Bachelor of Engineering degree from NED College, University of Karachi. He later pursued law at Law College Quetta, Balochistan University, where he was awarded a Gold Medal in 1978.
His professional journey began as an Assistant Engineer at the Municipal Corporation of Karachi in 1960. A year later, he joined WAPDA as a Supervising Engineer at Guddo Barrage in Kashmor. From 1962 to 1996, he served in various roles within the Communication and Works Department, Balochistan, eventually reaching the position of Chief Engineer. His tenure as the Director General of the Quetta Development Authority from 1994 to 1996 played a significant role in shaping the city’s infrastructure.
His career also took him abroad, allowing him to visit countries like North America, Holland, Japan, Thailand, and Hong Kong, gaining insights into global engineering and development practices.
On October 2, 1964, he married Fahmida Nusrat, a member of the Khan family from Zhob. Beyond his profession, he had a love for tennis and football, and he was deeply passionate about classic Indian cinema and music, particularly the works of Kishore Kumar and Mukesh. He also closely followed international affairs and national politics.
After retiring in 1996, he devoted more time to poetry, expressing his emotions and experiences through verse. His deep linguistic knowledge included fluency in Urdu, English, Arabic, Persian, and French.
A dedicated family man, he was the father of three sons who pursued careers in medicine and a daughter who devoted herself to religious studies.
Throughout his life, he lived in various cities, including Loralai, Zhob, Quetta, and Karachi. On June 4, 2021, he passed away, leaving behind a lasting legacy of wisdom, perseverance, and inspiration.
His life story is a true testament to resilience and determination. From migrating to a new country and starting from scratch to establishing a name for himself in society, he overcame countless struggles with courage and perseverance. His journey serves as a reminder that success is built on hard work, dedication, and the ability to rise above challenges. His legacy continues to inspire generations to come.