Tahira Raza

Ms. Tahira Raza, President & CEO First Women Bank Limited (FWBL), assumed office on April 23, 2014. Prior to her appointment as President of FWBL, Ms. Raza was serving the NBP as its SEVP, CRO & Group Chief Risk Management.

A banker par excellence and a mission driven leader for the socio-economic development of the country, Ms. Raza started her career with MCB in 1975. In 1989 Ms. Raza opted to join the First Women Bank and became one of the founding executives of FWBL.

After 14 years she left FWBL and joined NBP. Her interest, persistence, commitment and continuous efforts enabled Ms. Raza to avail opportunities and helped in shaping her into the competent and successful banker. In 2012 she got the honour to be the first woman SEVP in one of the largest bank in the country.

She holds MBA in Banking and Finance degree from the Institute of Business Administration (IBA) Karachi and DAIBP from the Institute of Bankers in Pakistan.

Ms Raza has presented numerous papers on Credit, Risk Management and Banking & Finance at national and international conferences/seminars/symposia. Apart from her professional achievements she is a keen Golfer.

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Mehmal Sarfraz

Mehmal Sarfraz is the regional Deputy Secretary General of South Asian Free Media Association (SAFMA), an associated media body of SAARC and Joint General Secretary of South Asian Women in Media (SAWM), a platform committed to fight gender-based violence and promote women’s rights in SAARC countries. Previously, she has worked as the Executive Director of Vanguard Books, The Friday Times and Good Times magazine, as lead analyst in a project on child rights violations with the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) and UNICEF, as the Op-Ed Editor of Daily Times, as Programmes Officer/Principal Information Officer at SAFMA, and as Deputy Editor of The Post. She tweets at: @Mehmal

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Iftikhar Ahmad

Mr Iftikhar Ahmad, Senior Executive Vice President and Senior Anchorperson at BOL News has pursued the cause of truth and justice with a thoroughness and honesty that is unrivalled in the history of journalism in Pakistan. 

Mr. Iftikhar Ahmad began his career in journalism in 1982 and after working for various publications including Daily Aftab, Daily Pakistan and Weekly Istiqlal, joined Daily Jang as a reporter. Later he did special assignments and political reporting before becoming in-charge of Political page. In 1987 he started the tradition of non-political interviews, giving insight into lives of political and other famous personalities. He was then appointed Editor Jang forums, a print journalism debate forum where he conducted hundreds of debates on national and political issues, including sensitive issues like Private Shariat Bill and Kalabagh Dam. Later he also became Director of Elections, Geo Investigate and Special projects Jang Group. Since then he has covered around six elections, bringing minute to minute coverage of election to the audience.

Over the course of a remarkable career spanning more than thirty-two years, Mr Iftikhar has proved time and again his undying commitment to the pursuit of truth and justice. His decision to join BOL is a mutual honor and a momentous victory for BOL. 

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Roohi Haq

Roohi Haq was a primary school teacher and a teacher trainer with considerable experience of school /educational management, before taking up her present role as Director of Studies at Beaconhouse. The 16 years that she has been in this position have given her invaluable experience of implementing key academic initiatives including CPD and curriculum, and also of change management as she watched and experienced the growth of the organisation from a very small family of schools into the multinational that it is today.

Mrs Haq is passionate about education and considers herself a lifelong learner. She loves to study schools and how they can become centres of learning and excellence. She has helped and guided many teachers towards becoming accomplished professionals and believes the best attributes for this are patience and understanding.

She shows no signs of slowing down and is still keenly interested in using her vast experience in teaching and management for the benefit of all educators who uphold the key values namely: a love for learning; willingness to help people to succeed, commitment and honesty.

Mrs Haq has been the driving force behind all the professional development and curriculum research and development programmes that are the hallmarks of success for Beaconhouse as a leading international provider of education.

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Naba Mansoor

Naba Mansoor is a Young, Islamabad based Fashion Designer, currently Working through a Co-Owned Brand Name of "DiyaNoor". She is seen making her way through the market saturated contrives with a radical spirit.

Naba lived her early childhood and teenage years in Muscat, Oman.  She did her O levels and A levels from a locally proclaimed school, in affiliation with the University of Cambridge. She Completed her University Degree of BBA (hons.) and later, MBA in Human Resource Management from International Islamic University, Islamabad during the year 2009. 

She came be talked about as a creatively infused mind, where she loved art plays in all aspects of life. Academically, she was not linked to art or fashion. Yet, her entrepreneurial instincts led her to pave the fashion fiesta her mind produced. She ran a leading  ready to-wear clothing brand's franchise in one of the most visited areas of Rawalpindi for around 2 plus years. There she observed the customer likes, market trends and the exploitable gaps to satisfy customers. She now is working as a designer, where she has made a mark in a very short time span. She has worked for some celebrities and is producing vogue of fashion flares. 

Her work has gained potential popularity in a shrunk time period and she now is focusing on overseas Pakistani-wardrobe fashion shows.

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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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Nighat Chaudhry

Born in Lahore and brought up in England Nighat has been a dancer from an early age as her skills were vividly visible when she was still a toddler. Later under the tutelage of legendry kathak dancer Naheed Siddque, she got herself groomed to perfection. Besides learning ballet and contemporary dance in London, Nighat also get herself trained in Kathak from the venerated institution of Kathak Kendra in Delhi, from Pandit Durga Lal of the Jaipur gharana. Today she is a force to reckon with, an institution to look forward to. With her newly founded NGO i.e. National Dance Foundations that she aims to preserve the dance heritage of our country. Under her belt two esteemed projects have already set in namely ?Classical Dances of Pakistan (Since Partition)?and ? Mountain Dances of Pakistan?. Best of luck , Nighat !!

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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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Mehr Tarar

Mahr Tarar, a graduate of West Virginia University, the 45-year-old Lahore-based journalist is mother of  a 13 year old boy. She is reported to be separated from her husband, a rich businessman based out of Bahrain. She used to work with a Pakistani daily, but quit recently. It’s reported that she now works with the group’s business channel. Another Lahore-based journo, who has worked with Mehr, describes her as “competitive”.

Did she know Shashi Tharoor? Well, in an interview to an Indian media publication, she said, “I met him in April last year for an interview in India. Then I met him in June in Dubai at a social gathering. Yes, I have been in touch with him once in a while on Twitter and email.”

Tarar had come to New Delhi in December last year to interview Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah. He told Hindustan Times that he agreed to the interview because there was a request from Tharoor’s office. However, on her December visit, she didn’t get to meet Tharoor who was in his constituency in Kerala.

Mehr has also told a publication that she kept in touch with the minister because she wanted to write a book on Kerala. “I used to send him my articles and he used to send me his comments, etc. But that was all,” she said.

 Another Indian media website reports that in her Pakistan newspaper column, My Corner,  dated October 20, 2013, she  wrote: “Whether they read my tweets or not is immaterial to the secret glee that at any given time I can gush over Amitabh Bachchan's latest movie, swoon over Channing Tatum's eyes, eulogise Nicholas Kristof's wisdom, retweet Imran Khan's wishes for Pakistan, smile reading Ronan Farrow's inimitable wry humour (his movie star looks are just an added bonus), be moved by Christiane Amanpour's heartfelt words on Syrian refugees, awww at SRK's love for life, or praise Shashi Tharoor for his very cool words (man, his voice is mesmerizing!).”

Interestingly, in the same column, she also hinted at the presence of a "special person" in her life without naming him: “...here's to that special one (you know who you are!) who makes Twitter an experience to cherish...forever. Thank you...,” reports the website.

Tarar was quite upset with the whole Twitter face-off, but what hurt her most was Pushkar calling her an “ISI agent”. On Thursday, Mehr told Hindustan Times, “Please tell Sunanda she can call me anything but not an ISI agent. My son is very upset.”

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Huzaima Bukhari

Huzaima Bukhari is based in Taxand Pakistan where she is a partner and Head of Research and Planning at Huzaima & Ikram, Pakistan’s leading independent firm of tax advisors. With 25 years’ experience of local and international tax, she develops innovative tax structures for companies engaged in cross-border e-business. She possesses a wealth of experience advising clients on joint ventures in Pakistan. A recent key transaction involved providing tax advice on a US$250 million contract for a joint venture between a leading Bangladeshi company and a Pakistani construction company. The two companies were building schools in earthquake-affected areas of Azad Jammu and Kashmir.

Areas of Expertise: 

International Tax, Joint Ventures and Cross-border e-business

http://www.huzaimaikram.com

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Nigar Nazar

Nigar Nazar, the first woman cartoonist of Pakistan and perhaps of the entire Muslim world, has for over 30 years rendered pictorial humor with a down to earth pragmatism. These highly expressive cartoons have provided cheer on gloomy 

days and attempt to expose the hypocrisy of society. Gogi cartoons have appeared in newspapers, magazines and television around the world. In 2004, her cartoons were put on the exterior of nine public buses in Islamabad, three in Lahore and two coasters plying between Gujar khan and Mirpur.

The children all wanted to ride the colorful "Gogi-buses." For her charitable work, Nigar has received many commendations and honors from organizations such as: UNICEF, Bishkek International School, Kinnaird College for Women Lahore, International Charity Group Maputo, The World Festival of Australia, Pan Pacific, and South East Asia Women's Association. The Government of Pakistan conferred on her Fatima Jinnah award and Wateen has featured her as the ICON 2010 (among eleven males) in their diary and desk calendar.

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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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Mazhar Kaleem

Mazhar Kaleem was born on 22 July 1942 in Multan.He belongs to a Pathan family,"Muhammad Zai" in Multan. Mazhar Kaleem is a Pakistani novelist chiefly famous for his Imran Series novels, Urdu spy fiction. written with in Imran Series mythos created by the late Ibn-e-Safi.

He is known for writing the Imran Series and has written short stories for children as well. He is the anchorperson of a famous saraiki radio talk show from Radio Multan, "Jamhoor-de-Awaz". He is a successful lawyer who was elected as Senior Vice President of Multan Bar Council and he heads a chamber in District Courts Multan.

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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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Wasim Sajjad

After obtaining an M.A. (Political Science) and an LL.B. from the Punjab University, Mr. Wasim Sajjad proceeded to Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar, from where he obtained the degrees of M.A. Jurisprudence and B.C.L. He is a Barrister-at-Law from the Inner Temple and is an honorary fellow of Wadham College, Oxford.

Mr. Wasim Sajjad is a Senior Advocate of the Supreme Court of Pakistan and one of the leading lawyers of the country. He was elected Senator in 1985 and thereafter became the Minister for Justice, Law and Parliamentary Affairs in 1986, which acts as Legal Advisor to the Federal Government and to the Public Sector Organizations in the country and is also responsible for introducing and handling legislative business of the Federal Government in Parliament. Mr. Wasim Sajjad became Chairman of the Senate of Pakistan in 1988 and held the office for 12 years. He has travelled extensively and led numerous delegations to countries all over the world. He has also held the office of the Acting President of Pakistan on several occasions.

As Law Minister, Mr. Wasim Sajjad established the Federal Judicial Academy in Islamabad, the purpose of which was to train Lower Court Judges, in Case Handling and Management so as to expedite the disposal of cases. The Academy has now become an important centre for this purpose.

After an absence of some years on account of his responsibilities in the Federal Government, Mr. Wasim Sajjad has now rejoined Sajjad Law Associates as its Head and Senior Partner.

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Bilal Mustafa

Mr. Bilal Mustafa, President and CEO of KASB Bank Limited, possesses over 38 years banking experience in various capacities in banking, initially in Habib Bank and subsequently in Allied Bank. In addition to being the Manager of various branches, Zonal Chief, Circle Executive, Area Regional Chief, Provincial Chief (Balochistan, NWFP, AJK and Punjab), he has also worked as Chief of Audit and Inspection/Group Chief Human Resources and as the overseeing executive of various divisions of Central Office, Karachi.

Having graduated in 1965, he did his M.A (Economics) in 1967 from Punjab University. His professional qualifications also include DAIBP. He started his career with Habib Bank in April 1968, progressing into managerial positions in various branches. He then joined Allied Bank in Sept 1973 as Manager, and was gradually promoted to the level of Senior Executive Vice President. He also worked as Chairman / Director First Allied Bank Modarba. He retired from ABL as SEVP in June 2007.

The Govt. of NWFP appointed Mr. Bilal Mustafa as Managing Director of the Bank of Khyber where he took over the charge on March 05, 2008. He served as Managing Director & CEO for five years.

He has undergone various foreign and national level trainings / courses during his career.

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Ameena Ilahi

Ameena Ilahi is the The Asia Foundation's Deputy Country Representative in Pakistan. Ms. Ilahi brings a wide range of development experience with particular interest in results-based monitoring and evaluation, program design and development, grants management, and communications.

Previously in Pakistan she worked primarily with international humanitarian organizations; she served as the monitoring and reporting specialist with Experience International on a large-scale agriculture project funded by the U.S Department of Agriculture. With the International Relief and Development, she was the monitoring and evaluation reporting manager where she led the development of the M&E framework, donor compliance and reporting, and capacity building of partner organizations. As the senior grants manager with Relief International, she managed a range of emergency response grants during the country's internal displacement crisis and flood disaster. As the grants and communication manager with the International Rescue Committee she was responsible for the entire grants administration cycle and the point person for all communications and outreach.

Prior to arriving in Pakistan, Ms. Ilahi worked as program coordinator with the Foundation for International Training where she undertook review missions to the Baltic States, developed proposals for CIDA in the areas of governance and human rights, and worked with partners in Egypt and Romania on developing effective communication strategies. She later served as the Research Grants facilitator at Brock University, assisting teaching staff in identification and development of research proposals and forging new partnerships with funders.

Ms. Ilahi brings direct country experience in Pakistan, Egypt, Romania, Lithuania, Estonia, Latvia, and Norway, and has worked in varied development sectors, including child rights, gender and development, emergency response, post-conflict development, good governance/democratization, water, sanitation & hygiene, agriculture, institutional strengthening and capacity building.

Education: Ms. Ilahi holds a BA in Sociology/Anthropology from Carleton University in Canada and an MSc in Agricultural Development from the University of London, UK.

http://asiafoundation.org/