image
image
Registered Users
7683
  • About
    • Project objectives
    • Purposes
    • Output
    • Venue
  • Speakers
  • Themes
    • Urban Services & Infrastructure
    • Urban Governance
    • Urban Growth and Development
    • Urban Economy
    • Urban Planning
    • Urban Living
    • Urban Environment
    • Urban Energy
    • Urban Housing & Slums
  • Program
  • Media
    • Press Clippings
    • Pictures Gallery
    • Presentations
    • Urban Gazette
    • Posters
    • Incite
    • News Gallery
    • Videos
  • Contact Us
Speakers  
 
  • Dr. Mehtab S. Karim
    • Dr. Mehtab S. Karim is a Research Professor in the School of Public Policy and coordinator of US State Department funded partnership program between GMU and the University of Karachi in Pakistan. He is also Distinguished Senior Fellow in Center for Social Science Research at GMU where he is conducting research on South Asian Diaspora in USA. He was a Senior Research Fellow at Pew Research Center, Washington DC (2008-10) and Professor of Demography and Head of Population & Reproductive Health Program at the Aga Khan University in Karachi, Pakistan during 2000-08. His earlier appointments include; Senior Research Fellow, at the Office of Population Research, Princeton University; Research Fellow, at Asia Research Center, London School of Economics, UK; Senior Associate, School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University; Technical Adviser/Consultant, the World Bank, Washington DC; Visiting Scientist, National Institute of Health, Bethesda, MD and Research Fellow, East-West Center, Honolulu, Hawaii. On various occasions he was also a consultant to United Nations Population Fund New York. During the 2012-13 academic year, at the invitation of Higher Education Commission of Pakistan, he was a Foreign Professor in the faculty of Social Sciences at Qaid-e-Azam University Islamabad and faculty of Business and Management Sciences, University of Karachi. In 2012 he was appointed as a member of the Governing Council of Pakistan Bureau of Statistics and member advisory committee, Department of Sociology, Aligarh Muslim University, India. He is also a visiting professor in the faculty of Arts at the University of Karachi and is advising the Dean on setting up a Social Science Research Centre. He completed his BA (Honors) in Sociology & Economics from the University of Karachi, Pakistan, earned MA in Social Science from the University of Chicago and PhD in Sociology/Demography from Cornell University.
  • Samia Waheed Altaf
    • Samia Waheed Altaf, a physician and public health specialist, was formerly the senior advisor to the Office of Health in the USAID Mission in Islamabad, Pakistan. Her career has focused on the management and coordination of complex health delivery systems for low-income populations. Dr. Altaf has also been on the faculty at Pakistan’s Aga Khan University Medical College; served as a primary health care program officer for UNICEF; and consulted for international aid agencies. She was the Wilson Center’s 2007-08 Pakistan
  • Abrar Ismael
    • Abrar Ismael is a professional Disaster Manager, graduated from Asia Pacific Center for Security Studies, Hawaii, USA. He has managed to perform Project Manager Logistics during Operation Life Line after 2005 Earthquake being part of Federal Relief Commission Pakistan. From the last nine years he has been dealing with projects of Reconstruction of Urban infrastructure and Services in the affected areas of earthquake and have successfully completed projects worth 100 Million USD. Mr. Ismael is also qualified from Research Centre for Urban Safety and Security, Kobe University Japan, Emergency Management from Harvard Kennedy School USA and Health and Humanitarian Logistics Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, USA.
  • Abdul Ghafoor
    • Abdul Ghafoor (Urdu: عبد الغفور‎), also known as Ghafer Shahzad, is a Pakistani architect. In January 2011 UET Lahore issued its first PhD in Architecture to him. He completed his Bachelor of Architecture degree with a thesis entitled Post-Independence Architecture in Lahore. He gained his Master of Architecture degree in 1999 with a dissertation entitled Symbolic status and Metamorphosis of Minaret in Mosque Complex. He completed his PhD dissertation, with the title To investigate the Forces Acting as Religious Magnet: The Shrine in Urban Settlements and their impact on Immediate Surrounding, under the supervision of Mahmood Hussain. Shahzad has penned fifteen books on different architectural themes including structural and architectural aspects of shrines, mosques and minarets. He is Deputy Director Architecture in the Punjab Auqaf Department and also member of Adjunct Faculty at Beaconhouse National University. He has designed historical monuments including mosques and shrines throughout the Punjab and contributed to the conservation and renovation of historical monuments. His has published articles and research papers in Urdu and English in national and international journals on the subject of Islamic Architecture in Pakistan. He has presented many papers at seminars and conferences organised by Anjumn-e-Mimaran, Institute of Architects Pakistan, and Research Center of National College of Arts etc. He is presenting on “Impact of Expansion of Muslim Shrine on its immediate surrounding in urban settlement, regarding the infrastructure facilities, traffic loads, etc
  • Zaheer Gardezi
    • Zaheer Gardezi has over 23- Years of working experience including Planning, Designing, Implementation and Managing the Rural Developmenent Infrastructure Program / Projects particularly Water & Sanitation Sector. Concieved and Launched the 1st ever and Biggest ever Project of Roof Top Rain Water Harvesting in the Public Sector of Pakistan. Over 40000 house in the Earthquake Affected Areas of Kashmir and KP are going to get direct benefit out of this project. His specialities include Development Professional, particularly in community based Rural Infrastructure, specifically Rural Water Supply & Sanitation- Initiated the concept of Roof Top Rain Water Harvesting in the Public Sector of Pakistan. Delivered Lectures/Talks on Rain Water Harvesting in the lead Universities of Pakistan as well as in UK.
  • Kamran Lashari
    • Kamran Lashari is a prominent bureacrat who has served as Chief Secretary, Government of Sindh with immediate effect. Kamran Lashari was serving as Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources. He will be moderating today’s session
  • Dr. Sania Nishtar
    • Dr. Sania Nishtar holds a Fellowship of the Royal College of Physicians and a Ph.D., from Kings College, London. Her work and experience in global health, international development, humanitarian assistance and governance, both nationally and internationally, span many dimensions, which range from institution building, public policy, research, advocacy and implementation. She a member of the civil society and has experience working in the government at the Cabinet level in addition to being a physician. Sania Nishtar served as Federal Minister of the Government of Pakistan during the 2013 caretaker government as Minister for Science and Technology, Education and Trainings and Information Technology and Telecom. She also had responsibility as focal person for health. During her term, she was instrumental in establishing Pakistan's Ministry of Health, which she had been advocating for in her civil society role. At the conclusion of her term she published Handover Papers, voluntarily submitting herself for accountability, an initiative which received wide acclaim for setting a new benchmark in transparency. She has named as the top 20 Women Scientists by Muslim Science, and is the recipient of Sitara-e-Imtiaz.
  • Peter Ellis
    • Peter Ellis is currently Lead Economist in the Social, Urban, Rural & Resilience Global Practice of the World Bank, based in Washington, DC. His main focus is on the South Asia Region. Prior to this he was based in Jakarta, Indonesia as coordinator for the urban and local government program. He has also worked extensively on Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Russia, India and Pakistan. His area of expertise covers local governance, decentralization, urban development, municipal finance, and housing markets. Before joining the World Bank he worked as a Senior Economist at Standard & Poor’s. He holds degrees in Earth Sciences, Economics and Urban Studies from the University of Cape Town, South Africa and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA.
  • Mrs. Salma Naz
    • Salma Naz is the Chairperson for the Department of Behavioral Science Minhaj University, Lahore. She is also the Coordinator for the Department of Histroy & Pakistan Studies Minhaj University, Lahore. Salma Naz along with this is Incharge of the M.phil Program Histroy & Pakistan Studies.
  • Suneetha Dasappa Kacker
    • Suneetha Dasappa Kacker is an urban sector professional with extensive experience in growth management, infrastructure and service delivery. Her work has spanned the public and private sectors, and has included both policy and project aspects. Her current areas of interest include institutions, governance, and the political economy of reform. Suneetha has worked in India and Bangladesh; and has been involved in multi-country global program initiatives. She holds an M Phil Degree in Urban Development and Housing Studies and is currently engaged with the World Bank Group, in South Asia
  • Umair Ahmed
    • Umair Ahmed has been working with Infrastructure Project Development Facility (IPDF) of Ministry of Finance Pakistan as Infrastructure Specialist for over three years. Currently, he is attending the Young Asian Professional Program of CDIA in Manila, Philippines in the capacity of Financial Specialist. He is an engineer and holds an MBA from University of Nice France, while his core professional experience includes Project Finance, Project Structuring, Public Private Partnerships/PFI and Project Management in the development sector.
  • Dr. Khalid Farooq
    • Dr. Khalid Farooq is an ecologist and is currently the Professor in the Botany Department at Mohiuddin Islamic University, Azad Kashmir. Prior to joining, MIU, he was the Principal and Professor at Govt. Post-graduate College Sahiwal. He earned his Ph.D. in Environmental Science from University of Bradford, UK. He received his M.Phil. in Plant Ecology from Quaid-e-Azam University, Islamabad and M.Sc. in Botany from Punjab University, Lahore. He is an expert in ecology of urban ecosystems, environmental urban planning, EIA, SEA and ecology of roads. His other research specialty areas are environmental management and assessment, urban green spaces, climate change, conservation of biodiversity and agro-ecology. He has served as consultant with different organizations on projects of urban planning, protected areas, transport planning and agro-ecology. He has authored more than 40 research papers/book chapters and has mentored thesis research of 50 BSc. to Ph.D students
  • Ahsan Paracha
    • Ahsan Paracha is working with World Bank since April 2015. He is providing technical support in designing and structuring Non Revenue Water Reduction program, institutional reforms in urban and rural water sector, advice on policy matters, knowledge management, reform communication, designing large sized water sector programs ensuring the due diligence, optimization of available resources and effective mobilization of financial resources by working closely with service provider and provincial governments. Mr. Paracha is also working with Asian Development Bank in preparing the medium term investment plan for water, sewerage and drainage sector in Sialkot City. He has been leading Water and Sanitation Extension Program of Aga Khan Foundation (P) for five years. Mr. Paracha holds Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from UET Peshawar and MS Degree in Environmental Engineering from NUST. He has worked with UNDP and Halcrow Group Limited.
  • Sohail Ali Naqvi
    • Sohail Ali Naqvi is Senior Project Officer, WWF-Pakistan and Coordinator of River Ravi Commission (RRC). He oversees the technical execution of the work of the Freshwater Department. Sohail has an engineering background, with double masters in Environmental Engineering, Hanyang University, South Korea and Agricultural Engineering, Agricultural University, Faisalabad, Pakistan. He has been working in the government, NGOs, and national and international consultancies along the domain of water and has an experience of about 8 years.
  • Muhammad Arshed Rafique
    • Muhammad Arshed Rafique is working as Coordinator Communications and Learning at LEAD Pakistan. Previously, he has worked at the Urban Unit and NEC Consultants. He has worked for the development sector for better part of his career and has interest in climate change, environment and urban development issues. He has an MS degree in Project Management and masters in English Literature and Public Administration
  • Hashim Zaidi
    • Hashim Zaidi has a background in public policy, Hashim has spent most of his professional career working on governance issues including parliamentary strengthening, rule of law, local governments, elections, and constitutional reforms. His previous assignment was managing a Federalism and Decentralization programme for United Nations Development Programme in Pakistan that focused on strengthening inter-provincial coordination, establishing local governments, and improving municipal service delivery & urban governance. Hashim has also had opportunities to work on education policy & reforms, enterprise development, and performance assessments. Hashim's current role as the Asia Urban Programme Manager involves developing Oxfam's learning and approaches to urban work across Asia along with providing strategic and programmatic advice and direction to country teams on urban programming.
  • Manan Aslam
    • Manan Aslam earned 18 years of schooling in Agribusiness Management from UAF, Pakistan in 2010. He is seasoned professional having more than 4 years of multidisciplinary teaching & research experience. It is also worth-mentioning that Manan is a young researcher with an ambition to contribute in areas of his academic and research pursuits. He has demonstrated by publishing twelve research papers mostly in HEC recognized journals of Pakistan and writing a number of popular newspaper and magazines articles on major agribusiness and social issues confronted by the economy of Pakistan. He has also published his research work in the form of five books and presented his research work in national as well as in international level conferences (most recently visited Bangladesh and Iran).
  • Ammad Baig
    • Ammad Baig is Second Year student of City and Regional Planning in UET Lahore
  • Iram Nadeem
    • Iram Nadeem Has worked as a consultant & project manager in International Development for 10 years
  • Dr. Anwar Shah
    • Dr. Anwar Shah is an Assistant Professor in School of Economics Quaid-e-Azam University. He completed his Doctorate from Melbourne University Australia in 2013 and has been teaching in Quaid-e-Azam University since 2004.
  • Maheen Saleem Khosa
    • Maheen graduated from Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs in 2011. She has since worked as a consultant with the UNDP, in a freelance capacity with the International Growth Center, and as a full time research fellow at the Lahore based Centre for Public Policy and Governance, FC College. At Columbia she was also the recipient of the Leous-Parry Award for Progressive Sustainability. Sameer Khosa is an Advocate of the High Courts of Pakistan, is a barrister called to the Bar at Lincoln’s Inn, and an Attorney in the State of New York. He is a partner in his own law firm, Axis Law Chambers
  • Muhammad Farhan Ul Moazzam
    • Muhammad Farhan Ul Moazzam is From Multan, Punjab. He has done his Bachelors in Geomatics (GIS/RS) from University Of Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.” He is doing his research to issue a publication and often volunteers to work with different organization on social issues and education.
  • Azhar Ali
    • Azhar Ali, Transport Planning Unit
  • Mamoona Saher
    • Mamoona Saher is Research Associate in the field of GIS and working as Resource person of GIS in Urban Planning Sector. She has worked on different projects during her six years and more services. She has supervised Urban Immovable Property Tax (UIPT) Survey and Land Record Management Information System (LRMIS), Police Station Thana Boundary for different districts. She has working as a Coordinate Officer in PMC, Civil Secretariat. Currently, she is working on PCGIP Gujranwala Peri-Urban Structure Plan. She has worked on posters regarding Delimitation of Gujranwala and Spatio-Temporal Analysis of Gujranwala. She is interested in Disaster Management, Mitigation and Recovery Plans, Community based trainings and awareness. She has written more than three papers about Disaster Management Recovery, Risk Reduction and Identification of hazardous areas in Pakistan due to Earthquake. She has also presented her Poster in 1st International Conference for Sustainable Development through G.C University about Disaster Risk Reduction against Flood Destruction. Earthquake Vibration Effect which has been presented at International Multidisciplinary Conference conduct by Scientific Research. Agriculture Drought Monitoring using satellite Data” which has been presented at National conference on Global climate Change: Implications and Strategies conduct by The Environ Monitor. She has also nominated for her Research Paper Disaster Risk Reduction against Flood Destruction in Geo-Spatial World Excellence Awards 2013
  • Dr. Abdul Qayoom
    • Dr. Abdul Qayoom Jakhrani obtained his Bachelors (B.E) degree in Mining Engineering in 1994 and Masters (M.E) degree in Environmental Engineering in 2002, from Mehran University of Engineering and Technology (MUET), Jamshoro, Sindh, Pakistan. He received his Doctorate degree in Environmental Engineering, in 2013, from University of Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS), Sarawak, Malaysia. His research interests include environmental engineering (air and water pollution control technologies), renewable energy technologies and solar systems. He is currently working as Assistant Professor, the Department of Energy and Environment Engineering, Quaid-e-Awam University of Engineering, Science and Technology (QUEST) Nawabshah, Sindh, Paksitan. He is member of Board of Faculty in the University. He is the approved PhD supervisor from Higher Education Commission (HEC), Pakistan. He is actively engaged in teaching and supervising postgraduate and graduate research students in the department to transfer theoretical and applied knowledge. He has published more than twenty three research papers, reviewed journal papers in various International and HEC recognized journals with impact factors. He also presented his work in more than twenty international and national conferences
  • Asif Mehmood
    • Asif Mehmood is an Urban Policy Analyst. He is interested in the fields of urban governance and liveability, his focus is on issues in Pakistan and South Asia. He occasionally writes for the newspapers and contributes his research to various conferences
  • Hasan Farrid uddin Virk
    • Hasan Farrid uddin Virk is a graduate of Political Science from Government College University Lahore and a free-lance researcher on urban environment, crime and public policy
  • Akhtar Hussain
    • Akhtar Hussain is a doctoral candidate in the Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Institute of Science and Technology Karachi. His dissertation research is focused on urban economics. He has participated in numerous urban conferences and is currently engaged in research in Urbanization.
  • Khwaja Sheraz
    • Khwaja Sheraz is masters and specialist in Transportation Engineering from NED University of Engineering and Technology, Karachi. He has published more than 20 research articles including conference and Journal papers, technical reports, thesis and stakeholders reviewing reports. He has participated in previous seminars of Pakistan Urban forum as an author. His research areas are urban transportation management, Road safety, Construction safety, Highway design and Environmental issues.
  • Engr. Sajjad Ali
    • Engr. Sajjad Ali is a Ph.D. scholar and is working in NED University of Engineering and Technology for about five years. He completed his M.E (Civil Engineering – Transportation Engineering) in 2014, after having a graduate degree (B.E Civil Engineering) in 2010. His basic interest is in material testing especially Highway Materials, Urban Ecology and Public Health.
  • Mehwish Abid
    • Mehwish Abid did her B.arch from CIIT ISB, M.A in architecture and visual arts from University of Liverpool,Uk. She is a practicing architect and researcher. Her recent architectural works include Turbat Multicultural complex, Quetta at Qadri Associates, Landscape of an upcoming university [University of Culture and Art (UCA)] and is currently working on proposals for extension of Kinnaird college under the supervision of Dr.Pervaiz Vandal & Ar.Sajda Haider Vandal. She is working on formulating the syllabus and coursework for Architecture Dept at UCA. Her upcoming book is in the pipeline that focuses on works of Architects of Pakistan
  • Ramisa Shafqat
    • Ramisa Shafqat is a young architect / planner, who has received her undergraduate degree from COMSATS Institute of Information Technology, Islamabad with Campus Gold Medal and Institute Gold Medal. She is also a recipient of Mehdi Ali Mirza Award from Institute of Architect, Pakistan for academic excellence. Ramisa pursued her postgraduate course MA-International Planning and Sustainable Development from University of Westminster, United Kingdom, on fully funded scholarship. She is currently working as an architect in a private firm in Karachi and has recently started PhD in the field of urban and regional planning from Curtin University, Western Australia
  • Ravindar Kumar Khianiis
    • Ravindar Kumar Khianiis an Architect with specializationin Urban Design. He has20 years of professional experience. Currently he is working as an Assistant Professor in Department of Architecture and Planning, NED University of Engineering and Technology, Karachi, Pakistan
  • Raza Naeem
    • Raza Naeem is a social scientist, literary critic, translator and prize-winning dramatic reader. Trained in Political Economy from the University of Leeds in UK, and in Middle Eastern History and Anthropology from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, USA. He is presently working on two books, namely, on the contradictions of bourgeois democracy in Pakistan, as well as translating Saadat Hasan Manto’s Letters to Uncle Sam and other postcolonial essays from the Urdu. He is the recipient of a prestigious 2013-14 British Council and Charles Wallace Trust Fellowship at the University of Bradford in the UK. He was a participated in both the First and Second Pakistan Urban Forums.
  • Dr. Uneb Gazder
    • Dr. Uneb Gazder has done her B.E Civil & MEM (Construction) from NED, UET in 2005 & 2008 respectively. PhD from King Fahd University in Petroleum & Minerals (KSA) in 2014. His Area of interest is transportation planning. He is Member of PEC. He has published 19 papers in Peer Review Journals & Conferences.
  • Waqar Bozdar
    • Waqar Bozdar is a student of Chemical Engineering in Dawood University of Engineering and Technology. He was the student editor of “Rivayat Magazine” the Annual magazine of his college “Govt. College For Men Nazimabad”. He has received best “Report writer award in “2nd National Youth Forum 2015” organized by “Youth Parliament of Pakistan” in “Pakistan American Cultural Center”. He is a writer , a thinker and a social activist
  • Zafar Siyal
    • Zafar Siyal has B.E (Mechanical) in 2003, M.E.(Energy & Environment) in 2011, PhD Scholar. Experience: Worked as Assistant Manager in Pakistan Steel Mills for 4 years, then started working in teaching side, worked as Lecturer for 4 years in QUEST and now is working as Assistant Professor since 4 years in QUEST Nawabshah
  • Fahim Aslam
    • Fahim Aslam Khan has extensive experience of developing, monitoring & implementing health, safety & environmental management at on-going construction work sites
  • Sadia Tariq Usmani
    • Sadia Tariq Usmani is currently running her own organization named Green Earth Society Pakistan-GESP (Founded on 22nd April 2014), which is affiliated with Generation Next-Voice of Youth, Sahulat Welfare Organization, WWF Pakistan, Go Green Pakistan, Nature Conservation Club, Young Social Reformers and Youth Parliament Pakistan.
  • Prof. Dr. Syed Shabih-ul-Hassan Zaidi
    • Shabih ul Hassan retired as Meritorious Professor and Chairman of CRP Uet LHR, in May, 2012. Previously, he was appointed as the Chairman of CRP Department from 1997 to 2004 and the Dean of the Faculty of Architecture and Planning from 2004 to 2010 at UET, Lahore. He obtained his Ph.D. degree in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Birmingham, England in 1990. Earlier, he graduated in City and Regional Planning from the UET, Lahore in 1975 and obtained an M.Sc. in Human Settlements Planning from Asian Institute of Technology, Bangkok in 1982. He started his career as a Lecturer in 1975 and was appointed as Professor in 1995. He has been a visiting faculty member of the Civil Services Academy, DMG Campus Lahore for the last 10 years. He has over 40 years experience of teaching and research in the field of Urban and Regional Planning. He has also participated in many urban and regional studies sponsored by the World Bank, UNICEF, IUCN and the Government of Pakistan and contributed as team leader in a number of consultancy projects of national importance. He obtained the Best University Teacher Award from Higher Education Commission of Pakistan in 2002 and achieved the rank of University Meritorious Professor in 2005. Prof. Zaidi is a Fellow of the Institute of Planners Pakistan (IPP), and a Member of the American Planners Association (APA).
  • Dr. Zaib un Nisa
    • Zaib un Nisa has done her master research in Ground Water using MODFLOW (PMWIN). She is currently doing her research of M.Phil. in Groundwater surface Water Interaction using ground water modeling system (GMS) and Water Shed Modeling System WMS from the same department.
  • Muhammad Abdul Hameed
    • After doing his M.A. in Economics from Government College, Lahore, in 1961, he started his career at a leading Lahore based English daily, The Civil & Military Gazette. After its closure, he moved onto Imroze, a leading Urdu daily. After a few years in journalism, he had to join Pakistan Railway as Information Officer (Class I). In 1987, he got an opportunity to put to work his ability to solve problems and his knowledge of modern methods and technologies, when he was appointed Director, Research and Reference, in the Punjab Government. After his retirement, he served for over six years in the National Reconstruction Bureau of Government of Pakistan. As a consultant, he contributed studies and solutions on many issues of national importance. His passion for finding solutions to problems, both big and small, is unabated. He continues to write about them, offering practical solutions. He believes he was at his creative best while writing the original Urdu book and later its English version, “The plan for eradication of poverty in Pakistan.” He writes about his ideas and plans in various blogs, to read more please visit his blogs: www.mahameed.blogspot.com, www.mahameedarticles.blogspot.com, www.mahameedurdu.blogspot.com
  • Dr. Shabbir Cheema
    • Dr. Shabbir Cheema current work focuses on governance and democracy in Asia and the Pacific—including civil-society engagement, cross-border governance, electoral and parliamentary processes, transparency and anti-corruption strategies, and civil-service reform. He directs the Asia Pacific Governance and Democracy Initiative (AGDI). Before joining the East-West Center, Dr. Cheema was Program Director, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, United Nations (2001–2007), Director of the Governance Division of the United Nations Development Programme (1995–2001), and Manager of the Urban Development Unit (1990–1995). As a senior UN official, he provided leadership in crafting country-level democratic governance and public-administration programs and designing regional and global research and training programs in electoral and parliamentary systems, human rights, innovation and leadership in the public sector, transparency and accountability of government, urban management, and decentralization. Dr. Cheema has been a Visiting Fellow at the Harvard University's Ash Institute for Democratic Governance and Innovation. He was the convener of the Ash Institute's Study Group of Eminent Scholars on Decentralizing Governance. From 1980 to 1988, Dr. Cheema was a Development Administration Planner at the United Nations Center for Regional Development in Nagoya, Japan. He has taught at the Universiti Sains Malaysia (1975–1979), the University of Hawaii (1988–1989) and New York University (2002–2007).
  • Dr. Shahed Khan
    • Dr. Shahed Khan is the Director for International and Alumni Engagement, Curtin University of Technology, Perth. 2015 to date. He has a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Urban Planning, Asian Institute of Technology, Bangkok (1992). Master of Urban and Regional Planning (MURP), University of Hawaii, USA (1987). Bachelor of Architecture (BArch), Dawood College of Engineering and Technology, NED University, Karachi (1981).
  • Melissa Gibbs
    • Melissa Gibbs, Deputy Director of the Australian Centre of Excellence for Local Government (ACELG), is a recognised leader in the fields of regional collaboration and strategic planning, combining over two decades of experience in practice, consulting and more recently in an academic setting. Melissa was the Executive Director of the Southern Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils (SSROC) for 15 years. During this time, she led a number of innovative cross-boundary programs, plans and strategies, including the development of a regional procurement program, resource sharing strategies and a range of regional asset and environmental plans and programs. Melissa has applied her knowledge and experience in a consulting capacity by preparing strategic plans for a number regional organisations of councils, resource sharing strategies for groups of councils, service and organisation reviews, development of structural reform options, and organisation values setting exercises. Melissa’s research interests at ACELG include local government reform and consolidation, shared services and cross-council collaboration, and the capacity building needs of rural-remote and Indigenous local government. She is co-author of a number of research papers on these themes, and has presented research findings across the country and internationally.
  • Masroor Ahmad
    • Masroor Ahmad is working with World Bank, Pakistan since 2005. He is leading the technical assistance in urban and rural water sector to service providers and provincial governments in areas like policy formulation, institutional reforms, knowledge management and dissemination, reform communication and civic engagement. He is leading the program in selected institutions of Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sind and AJK with the objective of service delivery improvement particularly for urban and rural poor
  • Dr. Noman Ahmed
    • Dr. Noman Ahmed is an architect and planner by profession. He obtained his Bachelor of Architecture degree from Dawood College/NED University, Karachi and a Masters degree in city planning from the Middle East Technical University, Ankara, Turkey. He also obtained postgraduate training in Urban and Regional Planning from the United Nations Centre for Regional Development (UNCRD), Nagoya, Japan and Centre for Urban Development Studies, Harvard University, Cambridge, USA. Dr. Noman obtained his Ph.D. from Loughborough University, UK. He is also a graduate of the 88th National Management Course offered by National School of Public Policy, Lahore, Pakistan. Dr. Noman has taught in leading architecture and planning institutions in Karachi and has also supervised post graduate research in the same disciplines. He worked as a Faculty Member and Coordinator, Urban Design Graduate Programme at the Dawood College of Engineering and Technology, Karachi from 1989 to 2000. Thereafter he founded an Architecture and Planning Department at the NED University of Engineering and Technology, Karachi in 2000. He is currently working as its Professor and Chairman. He has undertaken several self motivated research studies on developmental issues including infrastructural planning and management and has been a consultant to many NGOs, CBOs and government organizations in Pakistan and abroad. His recent book titled 'Water Supply in Karachi: Issues and Prospects' has been published by Oxford University Press in July 2008. He has contributed over 600 articles in DAWN and THE NEWS since 1988
  • MR. Misbahuddin Farid
    • Born on 31st August 1958 Managing Director Karachi Water & Sewerage Board Mr. Misbahuddin Farid graduated from N.E.D University of Engineering Karachi in 1982, Mr. Misbahuddin Farid joined Karachi Water & Sewerage Board as a professional civil engineer in 1987, with handful exposure in different aspects of engineering in several cities of Sindh, Pakistan while working with National Constructions and China Geo Exploration & Water-well Engineering Company from 1982-1987. He was initially inducted in KWSB as Assistant Executive Engineer and today he is acknowledged as an intellectual and Bulk Water Supply infrastructure and maintenance expert
  • Timeyin
    • Timeyin provides strategic leadership and quality programming oversight for WaterAid's global urban water and sanitation agenda. He recently served as the interim Country Representative of WaterAid in Nigeria (2011/12) where he had worked between 2003 - 2005, establishing the Advocacy and Communications Department, before moving to WaterAid UK as a Senior Policy Analyst in 2005. A specialist in sustainable urban development programming and public policy, he promotes and leads on learning reviews and evaluations. He is the author / co-author of several papers, policy briefs and training manuals on the environment, climate change and urbanisation. His publications include titles on supporting utility efficiency, CSOs engagement and pro-poor WASH services, such as the toolkit: “Our water, our waste, our town” and the WB-IDA effectiveness study report:Are World Bank's WASH investments benefiting the urban poor? Between 1999 and 2003, Timeyin chaired the Board of Lagos Mainland Local Planning Authority. Timeyin also worked in journalism, leaving as Deputy Housing and Environment Editor of The Guardian in Nigeria. He is a Fellow of the Leadership for Environment and Development Programme (LEAD), London, and a Member of the Nigeria Institute of Town Planners. He has served as a consultant to UNEP, FEPA, and NEST/CIDA
  • Vandana Mehra
    • Vandana Mehra, Regional Communications Specialist, Water and Sanitation Program in South Asia is based in New Delhi. The Water and Sanitation Program uses communictaions as a key tool to progress the reform agenda in the water and sanitation sector. As part of this function, governance and institutional reform imperatives, Vandana Mehra works with governments/water utilities in Bangladesh, India and Pakistan as well as Tajikistan to help them devise a roadmap for strategic communications and consultations with stakeholders. This includes assistance in building the government’s capacity at federal, state and local level to share and disseminate information; to communicate with its stakeholders; to provide training in communications as required; contribute to capacity-building efforts in water and sanitation for many stakeholders including regional media and politicians. In the last few years, she has also worked intensively on communications in projects around natural disasters which include the earthquake in Pakistan (Oct 2005); flooding in Pakistan (2010) besides leading the communications component in a large number of projects in urban water in India, Pakistan, and urban and rural sanitation in India and Tajikistan. The communications activities range include advocacy, reform communications as well as behavior change communications. In 2013 she was a key team member in managing an internal World Bank study titled “Landscape Study of Behavior Change Interventions in Sustainable Development Projects.”
  • Mr. Zahid Aziz
    • Mr. Zahid Aziz, is currently serving in the capacity of Managing Director of Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) Faisalabad. As an MD, he is responsible for the overall management, coordination and planning, projects implementation, monitoring and evaluation of WASA functions, the performance of all sections etc. Moreover, day to day direction to the WASA staff on technical & operational issues, involvement in new initiatives, programs, policies and on-site decisions on water supply, sewerage and drainage systems/facilities to the citizens of Faisalabad city. Previously, he also worked with WASA Lahore as Director Planning & Evaluation. A self-motivated and active individual with excellent communication and interpersonal skills; Mr. Aziz has a wide range of experience in environmental conservation; water and sanitation operations, management and improvement works, able to handle pressure and set priorities; expertise in providing ideas on sanitation engineering; inquisitive nature and efficient trainer and leader; ability to apply devised proven strategies to bring faster solutions; determined individual to deliver effective strategies, methods, materials, and settings to correspond with the needs. Mr. Aziz has earned his M.Scdegree in Sanitation Engineer from IHE Delft, Netherlands and B.Sc in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Engineering & Technology Lahore, Pakistan. Additionally, he has done his MBA from AIOU, Islamabad Pakistan. His international training at Japanin solid waste management and Netherlands in environmental system modeling is key to his professional technical capabilities.
  • Abid Rehman
    • Abid Rehman is Research Assistant in a Climate change project “Household Level Farmers Flood Adaptation Measures in Nowshera District, KP Pakistan” sponsored by South Asian Network for Development and Environmental Economics (SANDEE) at Centre for Policy and Management. He holds an MPhil degree in economics from Pakistan Institute of Developing Economics, Islamabad. He is also visiting faculty member at Department of Economics, Federal Urdu University of Science and Technology Islamabad, Pakistan. Where he leads the course of Urban Economics for Masters. His teaching and research interests include Applied Econometrics, Urban Economics and Mathematical Economics.
  • Dr. Adnan Khan
    • Dr. Adnan Khan is a development and health researcher with over 25 years of experience. He has researched extensively on research methods, the link between poverty and health and on health subjects. He has over 30 peer reviewed journal publications and over 50 policy briefs and working papers. He is the Director of research at Research and Development Solutions, an Islamabad based research group and an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Health Policy at the Vanderbilt University, USA.
  • Dr. Akhtar Ali
    • Dr. Akhtar Ali Shah teaches at University of Peshawer
  • Numra Asif
    • Numra Asif has recently completed her M.Phil in Economics and Finance from Pakistan Institute of Development Economics. She is a keen researcher and her areas of interest include Urban Economics and Development Economics. She is an enthusiastic researcher and wishes to work on issues that are important to the society and solve the quest for sustainable development
  • Qaiser Khalid
    • Qaiser Khalid Mehmood is lecturer in International Islamic University Islamabad in the department of Sociology.
  • Zahid Asghar
    • Zahid Asghar is an Associate Professor at Quaid-e-Azam University, Islamabad. His research interests include Applied Econometrics, Applied Statistics, Economy of Cities and Creative Society.
  • Jon Kher
    • Jon Kher Kaw is a Senior Urban Development Specialist in the South Asia Region Urban Unit based in Washington D.C. He brings with him expertise in public policy, urban planning and design, and real estate. Since joining the World Bank, Jon Kher has worked on various urban sector activities in Bhutan, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. He is also the primary author of the spatial planning and connectivity chapter in the Regional Urbanization Flagship for South Asia. Prior to his current role at the World Bank, Jon Kher held various key positions at the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA), the national urban planning agency of Singapore. There, he led the planning, design and implementation of key growth districts, as well as policy recommendations for national-level planning, land allocation and real estate market intervention. Jon Kher also worked in the private sector in Singapore and London, and was co-founder of an urban planning think tank in New York. He holds a Master in Design Studies (Housing and Urbanization) from Harvard University and a Master of Architecture from Columbia University. Follow him on Twitter @jonkherkaw
  • MARK ROBERTS
    • MARK ROBERTS is a Senior Economist with the Social, Urban, Rural and Resilience Global Practice of the World Bank, where his work is primarily focused on the South Asia Region. Prior to joining the World Bank, he was a Lecturer in Spatial Economics at the University of Cambridge and a Fellow of Murray Edwards College, Cambridge, where he also held the position of Director of Studies in Economics. Mark has published widely in leading peer reviewed journals on the subject of spatial economic development and is a former co-editor of the journal Spatial Economic Analysis. He is co-author of the Bank’s South Asia Region Flagship Report, Leveraging Urbanization in South Asia, and was a main contributor to the 2009 World Development Report, Reshaping Economic Geography. He holds a Ph.D. in Land Economy and an M.A. in Economics from the University of Cambridge, UK, as well as a M.Sc. in Economics from Warwick University, UK.
  • Muhammad Kamran
    • Muhammad Kamran has done BSc in Transportation Engineering from UET Lahore in 2009 and is currently doing his Masters in the same discipline from the same institution. Mr. Kamran has professional experience of more than 6 years in the field of Transportation/ Traffic Engineering.
  • Engr. Haroon Rashid
    • Engr. Haroon Rashid is from Peshawar. He has done his Civil Engineering and also did M.Sc. in Transportation Planning. Currently he is working towards his Doctorate in the same subject.
  • Kazim Khan
    • Kazim Khan is a Registered Engineer of Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC). He did his B.Sc. Transportation Engineering from University of Engineering & Technology, Lahore. He completed his M.Sc. Transportation Engineering from the same prestigious institution. Presently, he is working in Lahore Parking Company as Manager Planning & Operations. He has also worked with the Urban Unit, P&D Department, Govt. of the Punjab as a Transport Research Associate. His responsibilities included conducting research and providing assistance in various transportation disciplines including Transportation Planning, Traffic Engineering, Transport Policies, Infrastructure Development and other Transportation related planning, designing and research work. He has worked on various projects of transport planning and engineering studies in transport sector of the Urban Unit. He was previously attached with Lahore Transport Company (LTC), where he performed his duties as Operational Officer in Operations Sector to manage and monitor the public transport system. He has also worked as a highway Engineer on Lahore Ring Road Project (LRRP). He has performed various activities on the projects including Project Management, Project Planning and designing
  • Khurram Rasheed
    • Khurram Rasheed graduated from LUMS, Pakistan and did his Masters in Public Policy from Central European University (CEU) Budapest- Hungary. His academic degree in Anthropology complimented his professional work experiences in formal & technical education. His education has given him an opportunity to closely view the development policies in the educational sector. He worked as a research assistant with Professor Christopher Candland of University Wellesley College (USA) in a research project exploring the role of non-government organizations (NGO) in Pakistan. Professionally, he is actively engaged in formulation and implementation of policies for the private sector particularly international donor agencies. After his undergraduate degree, he joined United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Agribusiness Project, programs department. He was involved to address issues caused by climate change like destruction of crops; and to formulate policies to prevent such losses such as the mechanism of alternative crops and the use of technology to control temperature. Currently, he is working in USAID Training for Pakistan in Islamabad Planning. Currently he is working towards his Doctorate in the same subject.
  • Dr. Muhammad Adnan
    • Dr. Muhammad Adnan completed his Phd in year 2010 from University of Leeds, UK. His prime research interests are in the field of Transport Planning and Modelling. He is currently serving as Associate Professor in the Department of Urbana and Infrastructure Engineering. Recently he has done his Post doctorate from Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology. He has number of peer reviewed publication in top Journals and Conference.
  • Mr. Ali Agha
    • He is an alumni of global brands such as SAS, the largest privately held Software Company in the world as well as IT giants such as IBM, banking titans such as ABN Amro Bank. Mr. Agha moved to consulting for well-known National Brands such as Shaukat Khanum Hospital, Fatima Memorial Hospital and The Resource Group. Moreover, he has worked for the Center of Excellence in Research and Technology (CERT) in United Arab Emirates as e-Learning Solution Lead. The following are a few of many achievements under Mr. Agha’s belt: • Visiting faculty and academic advisor at the University of Engineering and Technology, Beacon house National University, Superior University and Imperial University as well as Examiner for the British Council HND BBA in Business program. • Awarded the Excellence in Teaching and Contributions Award by the UET Lahore. • He has been ranked very high in student rating and surveys of teaching quality. • Mr. Agha is a published academic invited to various conferences such as European and Middle Eastern Conference on Information Systems EMCIS annually. His recent paper Titled: Drivers and Barriers to Business Intelligence Adoption; A Case of Pakistan, secured 30,000 downloads which is a record by any academic professor at Research Gate. • Mr. Agha is the creator of The Smart City Lahore Project which aims to develop a framework for converting Lahore into a Smart City in collaboration with Judge Business School, Department of Engineering and Dept. of Architecture at the University Of Cambridge
  • Samita Khawar
    • Samita Khawar is a Director for Frost & Sullivan’s Public Sector and Government office in Dubai, UAE. She has vast experience in Middle East, North Africa & South Asia, having worked for Governments, United Nations and NGOs. Over the last four years with Frost & Sullivan, she has led a number of strategic projects including but not limited to the formulation of sector policy reform, crafting export promotion strategies, undertaking government policy and programme evaluations, urban development projects (residential, commercial, and growth centres). She has a wide experience in SMART cities development and has published a white paper. Samita holds a Master in Business Administration from University of the Punjab and a Business Diploma from Harvard Business School USA
  • Asad
    • Asad is a member of Pakistan Society of Development Economists, Islamabad and an Adjunct Scholar at Policy Research Institute of Market Economy. He specializes in business environment, regulations and microeconomics. In 2014, he authored a study called “State Coercion and The Fledgling Enterprises in Sharaqpur Bazaar: A Survey of Formal and Informal Economy,” for PRIME Institute. He works as a consultant for small scale enterprises in a small rural town, where he helps them in documentation, efficiency and modernization of their businesses. He has worked with many small enterprises on their path of growth particularly in education, agriculture and small scale manufacturing sectors. AsadUllah holds a BSc (Hons.) in Applied Management from Government College University, Lahore, and is currently doing his MS in Entrepreneurship and SME Management from the same institute.