Green Industrialization

Conference speakers 2025

Hon. Romina Khurshid Alam

National Coordinator to the Prime Minister, Ministry of Climate Change & Environmental Coordination, Government of Pakistan, Islamabad

Profile
Hon. Romina Khurshid Alam
Hon. Romina Khurshid Alam is the Member of National Assembly of Pakistan and the Coordinator to Prime Minister on Climate Change and Environmental Coordination. Previously she was the Convener National Parliamentary Taskforce on Sustainable Development Goals and State Minister. She has also served as the Parliamentary Secretary of the Climate Change Ministry and a member of multiple Standing Committees.

Ms. Aisha Humera Chauhdary

Federal Secretary, Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination, Government of Pakistan

Profile
Ms. Aisha Humera Chauhdary
Ms. Aisha Humera Chaudhary is a career Civil Servant. During her 30 years of service, she has worked on various key positions in the Federal Government including Economic Affairs Division, Ministry of Food Security and Economic Counselor Pakistan Mission to the WTO. During her posting in Geneva, she worked on agriculture and trade negotiations, environment, and development issues. She has served the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication for two and a half years as Additional Secretary before joining the Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination. Ms. Aisha Humera Chaudhary holds degrees of Executive master's in international Negotiation & Policy Making from Graduate Institute Geneva Executive Education, Mastering Trade Policy from Harvard University, USA, and M.Sc. – Development Management from London School of Economics, UK.

Mr. Sajid Baloch

Federal Secretary, Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of Pakistan, Islamabad

Profile
Mr. Sajid Baloch
Mr. Sajid Baloch is the Federal Secretary for the Ministry of Science and Technology. Mr. Sajid Baloch is an officer of the Pakistan Administrative Service (PAS) 23rd CTP. He was previously serving as the Special Secretary, Cabinet Division, looking after the matters relating to Federal Cabinet, Regulatory Authorities etc. He has also served as the CEO of the National Vocational and Technical Training Commission (NAVTTC). He has an experience of three decades in the public and development sector, including 7 years in United Nations. He holds a Masters Degree in Development & Environment from Kings College London, and Electrical Engineering from

Dr. Stephanie Blankenburg

Chief of Branch, UNCTAD, Geneva, Switzerland

Profile
Dr. Stephanie Blankenburg
Dr. Stephanie Blankenburg leads the Economic Cooperation and Integration amongst Developing countries (ECIDC) Branch at UNCTAD. She joined UNCTAD in 2015, previously heading its Debt and Development Finance Branch. Prior to joining UNCTAD, Stephanie was Senior Lecturer in Economics at the School of Oriental and Africa 29- 30 January 2025 TEPAV Building, Conference Room, TOBB Economics ve Technology University, Ankara Studies (SOAS) in London (UK) for 15 years and a research fellow at the ESRC Business Centre in the Department of Applied Economics at Cambridge University (UK) prior to her move to SOAS. She is co-author of two monographs on the theory and practice of neoliberalism. She holds a PhD in Economics from Cambridge University.

Dr. Safdar Sohail

Social Policy Resource Centre (SPRC), Islamabad

Profile
Dr. Safdar Sohail
Dr. Safdar Sohail, former Special Secretary Cabinet, belongs to the 1984 batch of Commerce and Trade Service and carries a Ph. D. in Sociology from France. He established SPRC in 2020. Dr. Sohail was the principle author of Draft National Sustainable Strategy of Pakistan in 2009 and of Strategic Trade Policy Framework 2009-12 & 2012- 2015. He has served as DG Trade Policy, Ministry of Commerce and Economic Minister to EU in Brussels. He has been Convenor of CPEC Joint Working Group on Industrial Cooperation and Pakistan's lead negotiator on CPEC Long Term Plan. He volunteers his time for the joint initiative of Ministries of Health and Human Rights to make Islamabad Capital Territory a better place to live for the persons with disabilities and elderly.

Mr. Asif Saeed Khan Lughmani

Additional Secretary, Ministry of Industries and Production, Islamabad

Profile
Mr. Asif Saeed Khan Lughmani
Mr. Asif Saeed Khan Lughmani is a seasoned civil servant and officer of the Pakistan Customs Service (PCS). He currently serves as the Additional Secretary at the Ministry of Industries and Production in Islamabad. With extensive experience in public administration, he has held various key positions, including Member and Chief Coordinator at the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR). His expertise spans customs, parliamentary affairs, and industrial policy, making him a pivotal figure in Pakistan's governance and development landscape.

Mr. Zulifqar Younas

Additional Secretary, Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination, Government of Pakistan, Islamabad

Profile
Mr. Zulifqar Younas
Mr. Zulfiqar Younous is the Additional Secretary at the Ministry of Climate Change, possessing rich experience in public policy particularly in Climate Finance, trade, public taxation, public finance, and human resource management. His demonstrated history in the public sector encompasses diverse responsibilities. Mr. Younous is adept in negotiations, public sector management, tax collection, conflict management, and Climate Change, and he is instrumental in public sector capacity building. His robust analytical skills, coupled with expertise in international trade management and entrepreneurship, underscore his strategic acumen. Academically, Mr. Younous holds an M.Sc. in Business & IT from Aston University, UK, and a B.Sc. in Civil Engineering from UET, Lahore. He is also pursuing a Ph.D. in Economics from the Warsaw School of Economics, with coursework completed and dissertation in progress.

Dr. Naeem uz Zafar

Chief Statistical Officer, Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, Islamabad

Profile
Dr. Naeem uz Zafar
Dr. Naeem earned a Doctorate in Economics from Northern Illinois University in 2010. His professional career has been diverse; starting from machine tools and power generation to university teaching and development management. During his academic career, he specialized in econometrics and labor economics. In 2014, he switched to Government by joining Planning Commission as Member Social Sectors. During his term, he was able to publish first official Multidimensional Poverty report based on PBS's Pakistan Standards of Living Measurement in 2016, he improved the poverty estimation method. In 2017, as Chief Economist for Sindh, he also led development planning and foreign aid sections, significantly strengthening the Planning & Development Department.

Ambassador Jauhar Saleem

President, Institute of Regional Studies, Islamabad

Profile
Ambassador Jauhar Saleem
Ambassador Saleem has previously worked at the highest echelons of Pakistan Foreign Service, including as Foreign Secretary, Special Secretary, Additional Foreign Secretary, Head of the Foreign Service Academy and Director General for Europe-Affairs. He also served as Pakistan’s ambassador to Germany, Italy, Bosnia & Herzegovina, and Bahrain, as well as Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), and the World Food Program (WFP). He was the elected President of 38 member country International Development Law Organization (IDLO) from 2020-2022. Ambassador Saleem studied English Literature, Government, International Relations and International Economics at Government College University, University of Pennsylvania, and Johns Hopkins. He also contributes regularly to print and electronic media as an international relations expert. Mr. Taufique Abbasi, Deputy Director General, Pakistan Standards & Quality Control Assurance, [PSQCA] Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of Pakistan, Karachi Mr. Taufique Ali Abbasi, a public officer, is currently serving as the Deputy Director General (Finance), PSQCA at the Ministry of Science & Technology. He has earned an M.Sc. Economics degree from Quaid-e-Azam University, Islamabad and an MBA for Public Sector Executives from the Institute of Business Administration, Karachi. He is a key figure in promoting international standards in Pakistan through his work with the Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA). With a focus on harmonizing standards, particularly in food and industry he significantly contributes to Pakistan’s economic development.

Mr. Fayaz H. Rahoojo

Additional Secretary, Environment, Climate Change & Coastal Development, Government of Sindh, Karachi

Profile
Mr. Fayaz H. Rahoojo
Fayaz Hussain Rahoojo, is working as Additional Secretary, Environment, Climate Change & Coastal Development Department, Government of Sindh. Prior to this, Mr. Rahoojo has served as Deputy Commissioner District Dadu, Additional Commissioner, Shaheed Benazirabad Division, Additional Deputy Commissioner-I, Naushahro Feroze and Assistant Commissioner at various Subdivisions of Sindh Province. Mr. Rahoojo takes keen interest in Climate Change issues and Clean & Green Initiatives. He beliefs in Capacity Building Programs, Constative Seminars and Deliberative Workshops before the formulations of any solid Consensus Policy and Line of Action. Mr. Rahoojo is a prolific writer and pens down on various socioeconomic issues.

Ms. Samia Saleem

Project Director, Punjab Green Development Programme, Government of Punjab, Lahore

Profile
Ms. Samia Saleem
Ms. Samia Saleem is a career civil servant from the Pakistan Administrative Service with fifteen years of experience in the public sector. As a civil servant, she has had the privilege to work in the Lahore Development Authority, Energy Department, Punjab Social Protection Authority, Mines and Minerals Department and Environment Protection and Climate Change Department. Her expertise extends to various areas, including policy formulation, development planning,budgeting, and project management. Currently, she is posted as the Project Director of the World Bank funded Punjab Green Development Program which aims to strengthen environmental governance and promote green investments in Punjab.

Mr. Imran Ali Sultan

Chief, Affordable Housing Project, Government of Punjab, Lahore

Profile
Mr. Imran Ali Sultan
Mr. Imran Ali Sultan is a seasoned urban planning practitioner. He is a senior civil servant from Pakistan Administrative Service and has transformed several district administrations, municipal services companies, development authorities and donor sponsored programs in a career spanning over ctor.

Dr. Sofia Alvi

Chief Scientific Officer, Pakistan Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Karachi

Profile
Dr. Sofia Alvi
Dr. Sofia Khalique Alvi is the Chief Stwo decades. He studied and trained from Japan (Grips, Tokyo), UK (LSE, London) and USA (MIT) in urban planning and local development. He has a unique experience of city development at local, provincial, national, and international scales. He is currently leading the World Bank funded Punjab Affordable Housing Program as Program Direcientific Officer at the Pakistan Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (PCSIR) in Karachi. With a distinguished career in scientific research and leadership, Dr. Alvi has made significant contributions to the advancement of industrial research in Pakistan. Dr. Sofia Alvi is a distinguished researcher with a Ph.D. in Chemistry (2011) from the International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences, HEJ Research Institute of Chemistry, University of Karachi. Her pioneering research on Black Carbon in Ambient Air in Karachi: Its Implication on Regional Climate and Air Quality marked a significant contribution to atmospheric chemistry in Pakistan.

Dr. Sajid Amin

Deputy Executive Director Research, Sustainable Development Policy Institute, Islamabad

Profile
Dr. Sajid Amin
Dr. Sajid is Deputy Executive Director and founding head of Policy Solutions Lab at Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) Pakistan. Prior to joining to SPDI, he was Senior Research Fellow and Assistant Professor at Department of Economics, Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE). Dr. Sajid’s research is located at the cutting edge of interdisciplinary inquiry of issues related to structure of economic growth, inclusiveness and sustainability of growth and sustainable development. Largely, he is macroeconomist with focus on social content in macroeconomic policies. Recently, he has been leading work on inclusive economic recovery from the pandemic. Dr. Sajid has been member multiple public sector committee

Mr. Imtiaz Ali Rastgar

Project Director, Punjab Green Development Programme, Government of Punjab, Lahore

Profile
Mr. Imtiaz Ali Rastgar
Imtiaz Rastgar is a Manufacturing and Exports Specialist with over five decades of experience. Starting in 1967, he transformed his own metal casting company into a global exporter of heavy axle parts and a key supplier to Pakistan’s auto sector. From 2004-2007 he headed the EDB at the Federal ministry of Industries where he led contingents of up to 72 Pakistani companies to Hannover Messe, Germany. During his time at the EDB, his policies boosted local manufacturing, increasing motorcycle and three-wheeler production. From 2007-2017, he served as an Engineering Sector Expert and Trainer at the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He is the author of “Stand Up & Be Counted with A Global Mindset”, intended for SME owners. Currently, Imtiaz Rastgar works as an Export and Management Consultant for Engineering Goods industry, while also delivering advice and guidance to technical universities and the Higher Education Commission

Dr. Amjad Hussain

Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore

Profile
Dr. Amjad Hussain
Dr. Amjad Hussain is a professor at the Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore. Prof. Hussain has worked as the Director for the Continuous Engineering Education program at U.E.T. Lahore. He has played a critical role in the implementation of outcome-based education within U.E.T Lahore as well as in other universities. Prof. Hussain has worked as an advisor with various government, semi-government, and private organizations. He has supervised many M.Sc. and PhD students in engineering management. Prof. Hussain has led many research projects with the collaboration of University of Cambridge, University of Central Florida, and Loughborough University UK. He completed his PhD in industrial system design at Loughborough

Dr. Muhammad Farhan

Professor, Department of Polymer and Process Engineering, University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore

Profile
Dr. Muhammad Farhan
Dr. Farhan Saeed is a Professor in the Department of Polymer and Process Engineering at the University of Engineering and Technology (UET), Lahore. With a distinguished career in academia and research, Dr. Saeed has made significant contributions to the field of polymer engineering. His research interests include elastomers, polymer blends, and advanced materials. Dr. Saeed's work has been widely published and cited in various scientific journals, reflecting his expertise and dedication to advancing the field of polymer engineering.

Mr. Faizan Ahmad

Faizan Metal Industries, Gujranwala

Profile
Mr. Faizan Ahmad
Faizan Ahmed is the CEO of Faizan Metal industry, a cookware manufacturing company in Gujranwala, Pakistan. He earned a BSc in Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering from UET Lahore and is currently enhancing his technical proficiency by pursuing an MSc in Artificial Intelligence. He played a pivotal role in collaborating with Liquid Trees, a San Francisco-based biomedical research firm focused on bioremediation. This partnership aimed to restore ecological balance by employing advanced biological processes to rejuvenate degraded environments. His professional development is further supported by comprehensive training experiences at notable organizations. He exemplifies his dedication to quality and sustainability, driving the adoption of innovative technologies and practices that meet global standards by focusing on cutting-edge AI technologies in line with traditional manufacturing processes.

Dr. Imdad Hussain

Professor, Department of Governance and Global Studies, Information Technology University, Lahore

Profile
Dr. Imdad Hussain
Dr. Imdad is a scholar-activist in the field of policy studies. He specializes in policy design, policy analysis, and policy experiments. Dr. Imdad has a PhD in Public Policy from National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies, Tokyo, and has a Postdoc from MIT. He has published in the areas of public policies: education policy, urban policy, water and sanitation policies, climate policy, and local governments. Recently, he is developing ideas on the intersections of technology and public policy in Pakistan. He has been associated with the Forman Christian College University, Lahore University of Management Sciences, University of the Punjab, Institute of Business Administration, and International Organizations such as the United Nations Development Program, Asian Development Bank, World Bank, and Department for International Development.

Mr. Abid Raza Khan

HOD, Department of Business Economics, Punjab University, Lahore and SPRC, Islamabad

Profile
Mr. Abid Raza Khan
Mr. Abid Raza Khan is an economist, presently serving as the Head of the Department of Business Economics at Punjab University. A Fulbright scholar, he pursued his graduate education at The New School for Social Research, New York, USA. His research interests include technology adoption, economic growth and distribution, consumption inequality and Entrepreneurial ecosystems. He possess vase experience of teaching including lectureship at University of Southern Maine (USA), Lang College (USA), CUNY John Jay College for Criminal Justice. He is also a visiting lecturer at SDSB, Lahore University of Management Sciences.
Scroll to Top