Guest Speakers at RCK Weekly Meetings

Mr. Azad Khan currently serves as the Additional Inspector General of Police, Karachi, a post he has held since January 2026. A member of the Police Service of Pakistan’s 25th Common batch, he joined service in 1998 and brings over 27 years of law enforcement experience. He holds a B.E. (Electrical) from N.E.D. University Karachi, an M.A. in International Relations from Karachi University, and an LLM in Criminal Justice from the University of Nottingham, UK. His career spans senior roles including District Police Officer, Badin; Additional Director, FIA (Counter Terrorism and Anti-Human Trafficking); Range DIG across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Sindh; and Joint Director General, Intelligence Bureau, Sindh. He has trained with the FBI, Canadian Police College, and UNODC, and holds several professional and gallantry awards.

Sulaiman Shahabuddin has served as President of The Aga Khan University (AKU) since 2021. Previously, he was Regional CEO of the Aga Khan Health Services in East Africa, overseeing five hospitals in Kenya and Tanzania serving more than one million patients annually. Born and raised in Pakistan, he spent the first 15 years of his career at AKU in Karachi. He holds an MBA from the Institute of Business Administration, a Master’s in Sustainable Development from Imperial College London, and a Doctorate of Health Administration from Central Michigan University. In recognition of his contributions to health and education, he was awarded Pakistan’s Sitara-i-Imtiaz in 2024.

Nadia Hussain is a renowned Pakistani actress, supermodel, TV host, and beauty entrepreneur, with a distinguished career spanning more than 20 years in Pakistan’s entertainment and fashion industry. She first gained recognition as a fashion model before successfully expanding into acting, television hosting, and business. Known for her professionalism, confidence, and modern outlook, she has remained a prominent figure in the media industry. Beyond entertainment, Nadia has established herself as a successful businesswoman in the beauty sector, with her own salons and beauty clinics offering professional beauty, skincare, and makeup services. She has also ventured into beauty products, contributing to the growth and development of Pakistan’s beauty industry.

Khurram Husain is one of Pakistan’s leading economic journalists and policy commentators, renowned for his insightful analysis of the country’s economy, governance, and public policy. As the Business Editor at Dawn, he has built a distinguished reputation for explaining complex economic issues with clarity and depth, covering areas such as fiscal policy, taxation, monetary affairs, and structural reforms. Beyond journalism, he has contributed as an economic analyst to the BBC and participated in prominent national and international policy forums. Through his research- driven commentary and public engagement, he continues to promote informed dialogue on economic reform, sustainable development, and governance, making him one of Pakistan’s most respected voices on business and public policy.

Rear Admiral (Retd.) Shahid Ahmed, SI(M), S. Bt., is the Chairman of Karachi Port Trust (KPT), bringing over 36 years of distinguished service in the Pakistan Navy and extensive expertise in maritime affairs. Commissioned in 1988, he has held numerous command, operational, and strategic leadership positions, including Naval Provost Marshal, Commander Force Protection Brigade, Director Marines & SSG (Navy), and Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff. He also served as Director General (Operations) at Port Qasim Authority, where he led significant operational advancements. A graduate of Pakistan Navy War College, NDU Islamabad, and NDU Washington, he is also a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Logistics & Transport and The Nautical Institute (UK). His wealth of experience in leadership, maritime management, and national service makes him an eminent authority in Pakistan’s maritime sector.

Professor Shaista Effendi Rais is a Consultant Plastic, Reconstructive, Burn and Aesthetic Surgeon, Holistic Practitioner, and Educationalist at Dr. Ziauddin University Hospital, Karachi. She is a graduate of Dow Medical College and holds an FRCS from Edinburgh.

Over her distinguished career, she established the largest 65-bed Burns Centre at Civil Hospital Karachi through a public-private partnership, introduced multidisciplinary cleft lip and palate care, and pioneered microvascular surgery initiatives.

She has also represented Pakistan internationally in burn and disaster management forums and has made significant contributions to healthcare development, medical training, research, and patient care.

She is also a granddaughter of late Hassanali Effendi, the founder of Sindh Madrastul lsam.

Abdul Qadir Memon is the Founder and Chief Advisor of A. Qadir & Company, a leading taxation and corporate law consultancy established in 1980. A founding Rotaractor of Rotaract Club North and an active member of the Rotary Club of Karachi, he has held numerous leadership positions in taxation, corporate governance, and public policy.

He has served on several national boards and advisory committees, while also contributing extensively to welfare through organizations including the Cleft and Contracture Foundation, Elza Mukhtar Foundation, Patients’ Behbud Society for Aga Khan University Hospital, and Hamdard Laboratories (Waqf) Pakistan

Dr. Imran Yousuf is the Managing Director of JOFA Group and a globally recognised leader in management sciences and psychology. Holding a D.Litt. and PostDoc from the UK, he is a Master Trainer in NLP and Clinical Hypnotherapy, and serves as National Convener of the PostDoc Society, UK. Over three decades, he has conducted seminars and workshops across four continents, reaching over 100,000 individuals. A member of psychological associations in Canada, the US, the UK, and Pakistan, he has received national awards from four countries, is the author of eight books, and is ranked among Pakistan’s Top 100 CEOs.

Mohammed Hassan Bakshi is a distinguished entrepreneur, industrialist, and industry leader, with a significant presence in Pakistan’s real estate, construction, and manufacturing sectors. Taking charge of the family business at just 17, he expanded it through dedication and vision. He has served as Chairman ABAD Pakistan twice (2018–19 and 2024–26) and is the only individual to progress consecutively through ABAD’s leadership ranks. A member of the Prime Minister’s Task Force on Housing and Construction, he has collaborated with the World Bank and IMF, championing sustainable urban development, affordable housing, and economic prosperity.

Ms. Shafaq Fauzil Azim is the President & CEO of the Pakistan Institute of Corporate Governance, where she leads initiatives focused on advancing governance standards, institutional capacity, and stakeholder collaboration. As a Fellow Member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Pakistan, she brings over 25 years of experience in corporate governance, audit, quality assurance, and risk management.

She has served on ICAP’s Auditing Standards & Ethics Committee and currently serves as an Independent Director on boards of not-for-profit organizations. Previously, she held senior leadership roles at EY Pakistan and Greenstar Social Marketing Pakistan. She is also an IFC-trained faculty member and contributor to governance and ESG-focused institutional publications in Pakistan.

Brigadier Tarique Quadir Lakhiar (R), SI(M), is the Chief Executive Officer of Sindh Integrated Emergency & Health Services, bringing over 32 years of distinguished military and strategic leadership experience across international, corporate, and development sectors. His career includes key roles with the United Nations, U.S. State Department, Pentagon, and the African Unity Organization. He also served as Head of Project Site for Thar Coal Project Block-2 and founding COO of the Thar Foundation, contributing significantly to Tharparkar’s socio-economic development under the vision “Thar Badle Ga Pakistan.” Since joining SIEHS in June 2023, he has led major reforms in pre-hospital emergency care. His honors include Sitara-e-Imtiaz (Military), the UN Medal of Valor, and the MACWAR Honour Award (USA).

Abdullah A. Fadil is the Director of the Partnership for a Lead-Free Future (PLF) Secretariat. He has over 25 years of experience in humanitarian relief, peace-building, and international development across Africa, the Middle East, and Europe. He previously served as the UNICEF Representative in Pakistan and Sudan, and held senior leadership roles with the UN in Syria, Jordan, Jerusalem, and New York, including with the OPCW-UN Joint Mission and the UN Humanitarian Monitoring Mechanism. Mr. Fadil holds two Master of Science degrees: in Public Policy and Management from SOAS, and in Industrial Relations and Personnel Management from the London School of Economics.

PP Khalid Gulzar is the Managing Director & CEO of Forte Pakistan Pvt Ltd., which he founded in 1977, leading its strategic planning and management. His expertise includes environmental engineering, power plants, including solar energy, and broadcast, studio electronics, and audiovisual systems. He previously served at the Pakistan Institute of Management and worked as a consultant in Germany and England. A Past President of ASHRAE Pakistan Chapter, he currently serves as Commodore of Karachi Yacht Club and has held several roles in RCK. He holds engineering degrees from Lahore and Birmingham and has taught at PIM and IBA Karachi.

Ms. Ronak Iqbal Lakhani is the CEO of Special Olympics Pakistan, with over 35 years of dedicated service to the organization. She has been instrumental in promoting inclusion for individuals with intellectual disabilities through sports, education, and community initiatives. In recognition of her contributions, she was awarded the Sitara-e-Imtiaz in 2016. She also serves as an Executive Member of the Special Olympics International Board (2016–2027). Ms. Lakhani is actively associated with several leading organizations, including Network of Organizations Working for Persons with Disabilities Pakistan, Sindh Women’s Swimming Association (President), Pakistan Women’s Swimming Association, Pakistan Olympic Association, The Kidney Centre Karachi, and the Pakistan Sports Board.

Asma Balal is a public health and development professional 25+ years of experience in programme design, implementation, and management. She is the Country Director at Marie Stopes Society Pakistan since 2016, overseeing program leadership, technical outputs, and financial management, while also serving on the Board of Mezrab.

She began her career as a Senior Analyst with Abt Associates, and later served as Manager Healthcare Practice Unit at Deloitte Emerging Markets Group. She has worked extensively with bilateral and multilateral donors, including FCDO, DFAT, USAID, UN, and the Global Fund, across Pakistan, the Middle East, and North Africa.

Javed Akhtar Odho, an officer of the Police Service of Pakistan (PSP), assumed charge as Inspector General of Police, Sindh on January 1, 2026. A graduate in commerce from Karachi University, he also holds a B.S. in Finance (Money and Banking), and an MBA from Oklahoma State University, USA. He joined the PSP through the CSS examination in 1994, and initially served in Punjab before transferring to his home province, Sindh, in 1998.

Over a career spanning 3 decades, he has held key operational, investigative, and administrative positions across Sindh and Balochistan, including AIGP Karachi Range and DIG in multiple districts. He also served as a Civilian Police Officer in the UN Peacekeeping Mission (UNMIK) in Kosovo during 1999–2000.

Dr. Nayyar Jabeen is a distinguished Consultant Physician and Diabetologist, currently serving as General Manager at Dr. Essa Laboratory & Diagnostic Centre, and Consultant at Pakistan International Airlines (PIA). She is also the President of the Pakistan Academy of Family Physicians and serves as Medical Expert and Master Trainer at the Sindh Health Care Commission.

As Charter President of the Corporate Club, Rotary International, she has demonstrated exemplary leadership beyond medicine. Her former roles include Medical Director at Canada Medical Group and Health Services, Ex-Chairman of the Health Committee for Pak-US Trade, Ex-Director of the Medical Committee at the Diplomatic Forum, and President of Peace International.

Sibtain Naqvi is a corporate professional, researcher, and author specializing in institutional history, national development, and organizational anthropology. A frequent contributor to Pakistan’s English newspapers, his research has been presented at Oxford, Cambridge, Columbia, and other international institutions. He regularly speaks at IBA, LUMS, and the Karachi Literature Festival. His essays appear in Oxford University Press’s Pakistan’s Radioactive Decade and he is cited in Through the Eyes of Tiger Cubs by Time Magazine, Asia Business Council, and the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy.

Naqvi’s publications include Unconventional: The Bank No One Saw Coming, Unravelling Gordian Knots, Chronicling Excellence: A History of IBA, Cobwebbed World of Sadequain, Ghalib: Call of Angel, and Rubaiyaat-e-Kuliyaat-Sadequain. He has authored institutional histories of IBA, Meezan Bank, and Faysal Bank.

Mr. Muhammad Sohail Rajput is the 7th Provincial Ombudsman for Sindh, sworn in on 11th March 2024. He holds a MBBS degree from Liaquat Medical College, Jamshoro, a Postgraduate Diploma in Business Administration from IBA Karachi, and an MPA in Economic Policy Management with specialization in International Energy Management from Columbia University, USA. A Hubert H. Humphrey Fellow, he attended programs at the University of North Carolina & Duke University, and interned at the World Bank. Since joining the Civil Service in 1991, he has served as Chief Secretary Sindh, Commissioner Karachi, and Secretary of multiple key departments. His key achievements include developing the Thar Coal Mining and Power Project, improving Sindh’s fiscal health, enhancing national IT exports, and leading the response to the 2022 super floods.

Syed Bilal Khalid is a business consultant, counselor, and motivational speaker who blends strategic business expertise with empathetic, purpose-driven leadership. He advises CEOs on strategic outsourcing models while also mentoring individuals to recognize and develop their potential, drawing deeply from his own life journey. Born with congenital amputation that resulted in underdeveloped limbs, he learned early to navigate an able-bodied world through prosthetic support, adaptive methods, and strong self-acceptance. Despite physical challenges, social scrutiny, and periods of self-doubt, he built a path defined by resilience and determination. Today, he advocates a “differently-abled” mindset centered on strength and adaptability, and through his talks and personal engagement, inspires audiences to rethink limitations, embrace inclusion, and pursue purposeful growth.

Dr. Amjad Saqib is the founder Chairman of Akhuwat Foundation, the world’s largest interest-free microfinance program in the world, which has disbursed over Rs. 382 billion to around 4 million poor families in Pakistan so far, and who launched Pakistan’s first fee-free higher education institution, the Akhuwat College, soon to become a university.

He is also the Chairman of Punjab Development Network (PDN), the Executive Director, Fountain House, a 500-bedded institute for treatment and rehabilitation of mentally challenged people, and the Chairman of the Punjab Educational Endowment Fund.

Dr. Saqib has received world-wide recognition, including the Ramon Magsaysay Award 2021 (popularly known as Asia’s Nobel Prize), the Islamic Economy Award, the Social Entrepreneur of the Year Award for 2018, by the World Economic Forum (WEF), the Schwab Foundation and Commonwealth’s 31st Point of Light Award, by Queen Elizabeth II in 2018, Lifetime Achievement Award, by Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank and Thomson Reuters, Rotary International’s Lifetime Achievement Award, Sitara-a-Imtiaz and Hilal-a-Imtiaz.

He has authored 10 books, and is an acclaimed speaker, who has spoken at the UN, Harvard, Oxford and Cambridge universities, and many other prestigious institutions throughout the world.

Dr. Damji completed medical school at the University of British Columbia, residency in Ophthalmology at the University of Ottawa, a clinical fellowship in Glaucoma at Duke University, and an Executive MBA from Queen’s University.

He was at the University of Ottawa as a glaucoma specialist and clinical scientist, and then moved to the University of Alberta where he was Professor. He was appointed Chair of the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences at the University of Alberta, where he is also professor emeritus. Dr. Damji also served as President of the Canadian Glaucoma Society and President of the Canadian Association of University Professors of Ophthalmology.

Dr Damji’s research is focused on stem cell therapy for glaucoma, use of technology to improve access for eye care, benefits of microinvasive glaucoma surgery, and a ‘sandwich’ training model to develop glaucoma subspecialists and leaders in Sub Saharan Africa.

He has authored over 190 peer-reviewed publications and is senior editor for the Shields Textbook of Glaucoma. He has received awards for excellence in teaching, research, humanism and global health, including the 2017 University of British Columbia Alumni Global Citizenship Award. Meeting Proceedings.

A motivational speaker and trainer, Durdan Ansari joined the BBC as a Presenter in 1985, where she remained for 2 decades, moving from BBC Urdu to the World Service’s English-language programmes, Meridian, Outlook and eventually The World Today.

In 2006, she was invited to lead a charity project in the UK to educate British Asian Muslim women. The project has engaged more than 9,000 women from marginalized backgrounds, teaching them English lessons and IT skills and offering cultural activities. She received an OBE from the Late Her Majesty the Queen Elizabeth II for her contribution to this work.

On 1st April 2019 she was appointed as Lt Commander and in July 2021 she was promoted to act as an Honorary Captain for the Royal Navy.