Salma Ahmed Alam

 

CEO, Durbeen | Education Reformer | Teacher Educator

Salma Ahmed Alam is a dedicated educationist and the CEO of Durbeen, a non-profit organization committed to enhancing the quality of public schools in Pakistan. With a strong background in teaching and policy, she has been at the forefront of efforts to improve teacher education and public-sector schooling.

Salma’s journey in education began at S.M.B. Fatima Jinnah Government School in Karachi, where she volunteered with Zindagi Trust for four years. She later pursued her higher education at Harvard University, graduating in 2013. Following this, she spent two years working as a consultant with the World Bank, contributing to educational development projects.

Her passion for teaching led her to Singapore, where she obtained a primary teaching qualification. In 2016, she returned to Pakistan and was appointed as the CEO of Durbeen, taking charge of a pioneering public-private partnership at the Government Elementary College of Teacher Education, Hussainabad, Karachi. Under her leadership, Durbeen has been instrumental in reforming teacher training programs and elevating public education standards.

Beyond her executive role, Salma remains deeply connected to teaching. She currently teaches mathematics B.Ed. courses at the college, shaping the next generation of educators. Her work reflects a strong commitment to systemic change in Pakistan’s education landscape, bridging policy, practice, and teacher development.

Omar Shahid Hamid

Omar Shahid Hamid has served as a police officer for two decades. As a member of the Sindh Police’s Counter Terrorism department, he has faced numerous challenges, including surviving an ambush by gangsters, being falsely implicated by colleagues, and narrowly escaping a bombing of his office by the Pakistani Taliban while serving as CID chief.

Following the 2011 attack on his office by the Pakistani Taliban, he took a five-year sabbatical to focus on writing and worked as a political risk consultant. In 2016, he resumed his role as a Counter Terrorism Officer. His insights and experiences have been widely quoted in major international publications, including The New York Times, USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, The Times, Le Monde, Reuters, CNN, and BBC.

His literary career began with The Prisoner (2013), which was longlisted for the DSC Prize for South Asian Literature 2015 and is now being adapted into a feature film. His second novel, The Spinner’s Tale (2015), won the 2016 Karachi Literature Festival Prize. He received the same award again in 2018 for his third novel, The Party Worker (2017), which is currently being adapted for a TV series. His fourth novel, The Fix, delves into the intricate world of cricket match-fixing. Betrayal marks his fifth novel.

Farrukh H. Khan

Mr. Farrukh Khan is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Pakistan Stock Exchange Limited (PSX). He qualified as a Chartered Accountant from the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, United Kingdom (UK), and also holds a BA (Hons.) in Economics and Finance from the University of Manchester.

With over 30 years of senior management and board-level experience, Farrukh is an experienced entrepreneur, and leading business and financial advisor who has advised on many landmark transactions. Previously he has held senior positions with Acumen in Pakistan & the UK, including Country Director & CEO, Pakistan, Senior Director Business Development, Chief Business Development Officer and member of the Management Committee. Mr. Khan was the founding partner and CEO of BMA Capital Management Limited. Under his stewardship, BMA established itself as the leading investment banking group in Pakistan and received several international awards, including the 2010 Euromoney award for the best investment bank in Pakistan. His experience includes lead managing the US$813 million GDR offering and London listing of OGDCL, Pakistan’s largest listed company, and successfully advising Etisalat on their $2.6 billion acquisition of Pak telecom, the largest mergers and acquisition transaction and the largest foreign direct investment in Pakistan’s history. Other historical transactions include the US$ 1.5 billion privatisation of Kot Addu Power Company and the US$898 million GDR offering for Pak Telecom. He has advised, either on the buy or sell side, on almost 50% of all successful privatisations in Pakistan, totaling over $4 billion in value. He has also worked with American Express Bank in Pakistan and Deloitte in London.

Mr. Khan has an excellent network and deep knowledge of global business and investments. He has previously served as President of Overseas Investors Chamber of Commerce & Industry (OICCI), Chairman of the Young Presidents’ Organization, Pakistan Chapter and on the boards of prominent public and private sector organisations. He was also associated with the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan as a member of its Policy Board from 2018 to 2019. Mr. Khan was selected by Euromoney as one of the top 50 global financial leaders, below the age of 40 years. His philanthropic interests include children’s health and education.

Ebrahim Qassim

Mr. Ebrahim Qassim joined the Board of Directors of National Foods Limited in 2000. He served at a British Pharmaceutical Company in Pakistan for 3 years at different capacities finally as Country manager. Later Mr. Ebrahim Qassim set up his own distribution business by the name of Premier Distributors in 1971, which has now a well-established network throughout Pakistan.

He has also served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Karachi Stock Exchange in the year 2000. Presently, he is on the Board of Directors of English Biscuits Private Limited, Coronet Foods Private Limited and is also the Chairman of Shield Corporation Limited.

A Chartered Accountant by profession, Mr. Ebrahim Qassim has also been part of the National Council of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Pakistan (ICAP) and the Marketing Association of Pakistan (MAP) in the past.

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Sana Javed

Sana Javed is beautiful Pakistani TV actress and model. She was noticed by everyone when she played the important role in the drama serial “Mera Pehla Pyar” on ARY Digital. Her other famous dramas include " Pyaray Afzal , Ranjish hee Sahi ,“Meenu Ka Susral”, “Meri Dulari”, “Mera Pehla Pyar” and Hisar-e-Ishq Sana Javed comes from an educated family. This beautiful Pakistani Actress has an innocent face and she is also known for her acting talent. Many people believe that she has the ability to become the future superstar of the Pakistani Showbiz Industry.

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Mujahid Barelvi

Mujahid Barelvi is a veteran journalist from Pakistan. He is known for his questioning skills and journalistic integrity. He is well versed in both local and international politics and has traveled extensively worldwide.

Mujahid is a critic by all means with a strong and pro active analytical approach. His candid and obdurate style, keeps his audience enchanted, which is regularly observed in his current, weekly program "Live With Mujahid" for CNBC Pakistan. This show not only connects him with local viewers but provides access to interviewing guests, globally.

Mujahid was the first Pakistani journalist to enter Kabul in 1979, after the Soviet Invasion. He was also the secretary of the Karachi Press Club for two years from 1987. He has authored several articles for political journals and newspapers and six books on Afghanistan and Baluchistan.

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Masood Hamid

Masood Hamid  is a graduate from Karachi University and has done Post Graduate Courses from IBA (Institute of Business Administration – Karachi) and EPBA Columbia University – USA. He started his profession with M/s. Spectrum Communications from 1984 to 1985 and then joined DAWN Group of Newspapers in 1985 as a Manager Supplements. Done projects on Industries, promoting/marketing DAWN internationally. He was appointed General Manager in 1993 and was promoted as Senior General Manager in 2004. Presently serving as Director Marketing.

He attended various International Advertising Conferences and Newspaper Conferences abroad. He is Secretary, Marketing Association of Pakistan, Member of Marketing Association of Pakistan (2012 – 2015), Vice President of International Advertising Association (IAA) – Pakistan Chapter, Founder Member / Treasurer, Italian Development Council (IDC), Independent Trade body for the promotion of trade between Pakistan and Italy. Member MALPAK (Malaysia-Pakistan) Joint Business Council.

He served as Joint Secretary of All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS) for the years 2006 – 2007. He was elected Secretary General, APNS for the term 2012-2013.

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Abdul Khaliq Khan

Abdul Khaliq Khan, Vice President, Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry, represents Sukkur Chamber of Commerce and Industry on the Executive Committee of FPCCI. He is well known and prominent businessman of Pakistan.

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Rehan Azmi

Dr Rehan Azmi is a noted writer of Nohas, a poet. His contributions and sincerity got him into the Guinness Book of World Records in 1997 for being the 7th speediest writers of poetry in this world

He was born on 1958 in Karachi, Sindh. His real name is Syed Rehan Abbas Rizvi. Rehan earned a BA Degree from Sirajuddaula College, Karachi.He is also M.A in Urdu & political science . In 1993 he earned an honorary doctorate degree from U.S.A.

Around the globe where ever there are even a handful of shia’s, Rehan Azmi is well known. He writes around 600 nohas per year for approx 200 anjumans in Pakistan.

Rehan Azmi did not always write nohas.He wrote ghazals and geet as well for Pakistan TV. He work as a song writer for PTV from 1982 to 1987 and wrote more than 4000 songs. He finally quit writing songs completely after 1988. He is a teacher by profession in a Ali Ali School in Karachi. He is regarded as one of the greatest noha writers of the modern times.

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Zia Mohyeddin

Zia Mohyeddin was born in Lyallpur (now Faisalabad) into a family of scholars and aesthetes. He took off for Australia after his degree in philosphy from where his fame started. He went on to the famed Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in 1953 and soon began a successful career on the boards.

Mr Mohyeddin starred in Eugene O’Neill’s Long Day’s Journey Into Night, Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar and made his West End debut playing Dr Aziz in EM Forster’s Passage to India. Mr Mohyeddin was a smash on Broadway, too. Stints on the BBC and ITV followed. At the peak of his career, he decided to move back home.

He returned to Pakistan in the 1960s, hosting the Zia Mohyeddin show on PTV. He set up the PIA Arts and Dance Academy the following decade. The arts academy toured the world and performed at the Madison Square Garden and for Queen Elizabeth II. When Gen Ziaul Haq effectively banned the arts in the 1980s, He once again, left for London.

In February 2005 he was invited by  President Pervez Musharraf  to act as Chairman of the new National Academy of Performing Arts in Karachi.

Salman Faruqui

Mr. Salman Faruqui, NI has rendered exemplary service to the people of Pakistan through his nearly 50 years dedicated public service and major initiatives in the fields of human rights and economic development.

Mr. Faruqui, has taken oath as Wafaqi Mohtasib (Ombudsman) of Pakistan on 11th December, 2012. He is also serving as Secretary General to the President (with the status of Federal Minister) and has earlier served as Deputy Chairman Planning Commission of Pakistan, Ambassador-at-Large in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Secretary General to the Government of Pakistan (elevated in 1993). He headed various Ministries in the Federal Government, including Ministry of Communications (including present Ministries of Ports & Shipping, Information Technology and Telecommunication and Postal Services), Ministry of Food, Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, Ministry of Environment and Urban Affairs, Ministry of Water and Power and Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development and Ministry of Commerce (including the present Ministry of Textile). He also headed Special Education and Social Welfare Division and served in the Ministry of Industries.

Mr. Faruqui served as Secretary to Prime Minister Mohtrama Benazir Bhutto, and as Additional Secretary to Prime Minister Muhammad Khan Junejo.

Mr. Faruqui served as Secretary to the Provincial Government for more than a decade, and also headed (as Chairman or/and Chief Executive Officer) several public enterprises including as the first Chairman/CEO of Pakistan Telecommunications Corporation Ltd., National Highways Authority, Pakistan Postal Services Corporation and Sindh Sugar Corporation, and as the first Director General of Special Education and Chairman of the Trust for the Disabled. He also served as Chairman of NESPAK, National Power Construction Corporation, PEPAC etc. He was one of the founders of Private Power and Infrastructure Board and Pakistan Software Export Board.

Mr. Faruqui revolutionized telecommunication sector and introduced optic fiber, digital phones (through highly acclaimed BLT system) and mobile phones in Pakistan. He also initiated international direct dialing for all telephone subscribers. He initiated Peshawar to Karachi Indus Highway and implemented dualization of large sections of GT Road (N-5) and the first ever Motorway in Pakistan (M-2). In the Water & Power Sector, he initiated Ghazi Brotha project (the first hydel project after Tarbela Dam) and also implemented the renowned 1994 IPP policy which for the first time introduced private sector in power sector and eliminated outrages throughout Pakistan. In the field of Human Rights, Mr. Faruqui started scores of Model Special Education Centres throughout the country for all disabilities. He successfully implemented ban on human plied cycle rickshaws throughout the country. He also launched the experimental green channel system at Karachi Airport and initiated schemes of Dry Ports and Export Processing Zones. Mr. Faruqui also completed mini Port at Gwadar and initiated scheme for deep seaport project there. He introduced private sector in the Ports and Shipping sectors and added Terminals for Container Traffic at both the Ports in Karachi and initiated and completed exclusive Oil and Export Terminals. In the field of Economic Development, he was a key member of the government?s economic teams for a decade during which he contributed substantially towards sustainable economic development.

Mr. Faruqui has a law degree and a postgraduate degree in Political Science and International Relations. He also has a postgraduate degree in Public Administration from the University of Southern California. He is member of Board of Governor, International Islamic University, Islamabad. He is also Member of the Syndicate Sindh Madressatul Islam University. He is a member of the Syndicate of Quaid-e-Azam University in Islamabad, and earlier served as a member of the University of Karachi Syndicate. 

The Government of Pakistan has conferred the highest award of Nishan-i-Imtiaz for Mr. Faruquis lifelong dedication and selfless devotion in Public Service.

Aftab Anwar Baloch

Mr. Aftab Anwar Baloch an officer of Pakistan Customs Service belongs to Seventh Common Training Programme.  He joined service of Government of Pakistan during  1980 and possesses 32 years of rich experience both in formulation and implementation of fiscal policy relating to levy  charge and collection of Federal Taxes i.e. Customs Duty, Sales Tax, Federal Excise Duty etc.

He belongs to Sindh Province and has served on various positions throughout Pakistan under the  Federal Board of Revenue.  He has also served as Minister (Trade) in the Embassy of Pakistan, Moscow (Russian Federation) during 2005 to 2008 with accreditation to Belarus.

He has extensively travelled abroad and has been instrumental  in the compilation of WHO Technical Manual on Tobacco Tax Administration published by World Health Organization and has attended various meetings/seminars  in Saudi Arabia, Switzerland, America on Tobacco Taxation and FCTC besides attending Seminar on Revised Kyoto Convention in Maldives under World Custom  Organization and  Course on Tax Administration in USA.

He also possesses research experience in introduction of Sales Tax under  VAT Mode and Tobacco Taxation  Joint Research Study Project under  FBR-WHO Collaboration.

At present he is working as Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Finance looking after Internal Finance and Investment Wing.

Nadeem Farooq Paracha

Nadeem Farooq Paracha, well known journalist, cultural critic and satirist, Nadeem F. Paracha (aka NFP) wrote and worked for The News International (Instep) between 1993 and 2005. He now writes for Dawn (Dawn Images and Dawn Magazine) and Indian Express. He has also written a novelette, Acidity, and co-hosted AAJ TV’s political satire show, News, Views & Confused with Fasi Zaka (2005-09).

Born in Karachi. Left-wing student activist in the mid & late ’80s.
Arrested twice by General Zia’s right-wing dictatorship for “anti-state activities.” Took out Pakistan’s first ever “underground” anarchist newsletter, The Arousal, before joining Pakistan’s largest English weekly, MAG in 1990.
Joined The News, Karachi as editor of the paper’s popular-culture page, Instep, and columnist.

Currently writing a regular column for Dawn Newspaper (Smokers Corner), Dawn.Com (Cafe Black) and one for Indian Express. Has also contributed articles to The Friday Times. – picked from Dawn.Com

Quick Facts

Birth: 6th Feb, 1967, Karachi.

Education: O Level from Karachi Grammar School (1983); B-Com from Saint Patricks Govt. College, Karachi (1984-87); MA Political Science from University of Karachi (1988-89).

Political Career: Vice-President of Peoples Students Federation (student wing of Pakistan Peoples Party) at St. Pat’s Govt. College (1985-86); General Secretary of St. Pats Socialist Students Federation (1987); Information Secretary of National Students Federation at University of Karachi in 1988; One of the founding members of The News Employees Union at The News, Karachi (1993).

Journalistic Career: Feature writer at Weekly Mag (1991-93); Senior Feature writer/Reporter and then editor of The News’ cultural pages (Instept) at the The News (1993-99); Senior Columnist at Dawn Newspaper and Dawn.Com (2005-present); Contributing columnist for Indian Express and Deccan Chronicals (India).

Political Views: Was a staunch pro-Soviet Marxist during college and university. Has been a supporter of the PPP since 1980s, but has also been a strong advocate of alliances between PPP, MQM and ANP. After the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, NFP became a strong advocate of left-liberal ideologies and of working towards a strong secular culture and politics in Pakistan. - Info compliled from various NFP interviews and articles written on him on assorted websites.     
 

Munawar Ali Rind

Munawar Ali Rind is  Islamabad-based Entrepreneur, Youth Activist and the vibrant secular young person who has achieved tremendous success in his young life of 23. Born at Village Digu Farm of Umerkot District on 17th October 1988, He completed his Matriculation from Umerkot  and intermediate from Hyderabad. Later he joined SZABIST Karachi and currently studying BBA at SZABIST-Islamabad. He is  passionate youth aspiring to be self-employed and develop quality institutions for the coming and this new young generation, to which he himself belong, too. He have  contributed for the mobilization and empowerment of the youth of Pakistan from grass-root to policy-making levels both nationally and internationally.
During May, 2009, Munawar founded a nation-wide youth network named Participatory Youth Development Network (PYDN) at Karachi and then founded SGA-Youth Club at Islamabad. Given his enterprising nature,he initiated the business ventures with brand name of PARADISE Lodging Services (PLS) at Islamabad which is a name for the quality lodging facilities at major cities of Pakistan. he have  closely worked with international organizations and facilitated them in Pakistan.I am good of secular, democratic and liberal voices & inter-faith harmony in Pakistan with strong opposition to orthodoxy and  conservative approaches of the society.

Amir Zia

Amir Zia has worked for some of the leading national and international media organizations in a journalistic career spanning more than 20 years. He writes mainly on Pakistan economy, politics and extremism. Currently, Zia is associated with one of Pakistan's leading English-language newspaper, The News, as Business Editor. Before joining The News in March 2010, he served as Director News & Current Affairs of Urdu-language private news channel SAMAA. 

He has also worked for The Associated Press of America, Reuters and monthly magazine, Newsline. He had also been the Karachi Correspondent of Gulf News. Zia headed the Public Relations Department of Pakistan Petroleum Ltd (PPL) and served as the Editor of its corporate magazine “Progress.” Zia has received two APNS Awards for best stories on economy and general news in 1997. He was elected secretary of the Karachi Press Club in mid-1990s. Born in Karachi, Zia got early education from Nasra Secondary School. He obtained a Masters' degree in English Literature from the University of Karachi in 1990.

Mehwish Siddique

Mehwish Siddique born in Karachi, started her career as a theatre artist. She has a degree in acting from the National Academy of Performing Arts and she has a bachelors degree in Psychology. She started her career in 2008 as a TV actress. Her acnhoring career started in January 2001. Her interests include reading and acting.

Mehwish Siddique will be anchoring “Awam ki Awaz” which will be aired every Friday at 22:03pm – 23:00pm at SAMAA tv.

Faiq Husain

Mr. Faiq Husain, President and CEO of Rozgar Microfinance Bank is an MBA (Finance) from IBA, Karachi. He has over twenty years experience of Investment Banking, Lease Financing, Monitoring, Settlements, Recovery of dues, Asset Management etc., at different senior levels viz. Vice President, Senior Vice President, Executive Vice President and Acting Managing Director of a Joint Venture Financial Institution of the country. He has been actively supporting self-employment through Micro Financing, and has written papers also on this subject.

Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy

Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy is an Emmy award winning documentary filmmaker. Her films include PAKISTAN’S TALIBAN GENERATION, which aired on PBS, Channel 4, CBC, SBS and Arte and was the recipient of the Alfred I Dupont Award as well as The Association for International Broadcasting award. Sharmeen has made over a dozen-multi award winning films in over 10 countries around the world and is the first non-American to be awarded the Livingston Award for best international reporting.

In 2007, Sharmeen was awarded the broadcast journalist of the year award in the UK by One World Media for her work in a series of documentary films for Channel 4, which included a film about xenophobia in South Africa THE NEW APARTHEID. Her other films have been awarded The Overseas Press Club Award, The American Women in Radio and Television Award, The Cine Golden Eagle award and the Banff Rockie Award.

Sharmeen was born and raised in Karachi, Pakistan and received a bachelors degree from Smith College and went on to complete two masters degree from Stanford University.

Tazeen Huma

She has done her masters in Mass Communication from university of Karachi. She joined PTV as an anchor in 1994 and worked till 1998, during this period she also won the best anchor award from PTV. After that she joined Geo News as an anchor in 2002 where she worked for 2 years. In 2004 she joined ARY News as an anchor and producer in current affair dept till 2009. She joined Indus News as morning show host in 2009 for one year and right now she is working as a host at Waqt News in their prime time program “Zabardast”.

Najia Ashar

Najia Ashar is newscaster and host of Geo News Television channel . She started her career as a newscaster. she had been hosting Geo News Programs "Yeh Hai Pakistan" and "Nazim Hazir Ho".

(Detailed profile coming soon)