Zeeshan joined the Securities & Exchange Commission of Pakistan as Commissioner in November 2024. He has over two decades of local and international experience in real estate investment & management, regulatory affairs, wealth management, and development of export-led technology infrastructure. He brings rich experience in capital markets, regulatory oversight and asset management. In his previous leading roles, he managed large portfolios while focusing on strategic planning, risk management and delivering innovative solutions for high-net-worth individuals and institutional clients. Zeeshan’s most recent association was with the Pakistan Software Export Board as Chief Commercial Officer and additionally as Chief Executive Officer designate. At PSEB, he played a pivotal role in advancing the IT industry’s growth, fostering trade partnerships, shaping national-level policies and being the country’s representation at global forums for trade agreements. His vision is to help create a globally competitive, attractive and resilient capital market in the country enabled by cutting-edge technologies for sustainable economic development.

Zeeshan has a strong academic background in business, economics and finance and has attended reputable business schools in Pakistan and the US.

Adnan Fasih is Group Head of Islamic Banking at HBZ SIRAT. Adnan has a successful track record of setting up Islamic banking business lines and tapping new opportunities across geographies. Since 2012, Adnan has been in a leadership role for establishing and growing Islamic banking within HBZ. Since 2014 the brand has expanded into the UAE, South Africa, the UK and Switzerland. Adnan has over 30 years of banking experience with a strong focus on global Islamic finance for more than 15 years. He has also held strategic and management roles in corporate, retail, commercial and risk management segments with other top tier banks in Pakistan and the UAE. Adnan holds an MBA from University of Leicester and an Islamic Finance qualification from Dow Jones. He also has certification for Islamic Finance & SDG from UNDP & IsDB. Adnan works regularly and closely with leading global Shariah advisors and is also a certified director.

Azeem Pirani is COO and Executive Director at EFU Life Assurance. Prior to this, he was the CEO at Pak-Qatar Family Takaful. Azeem is a Founding Trustee at Ihsaas Trust, a provider of microfinance, dedicated to developing sustainable livelihoods for the economically challenged, and providing social support. Azeem holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Islamic Banking & Finance from the Centre of Islamic Economics in Pakistan, an MBA in International Business from the University of New Brunswick in Canada, and a BBA in Finance from the University of Houston in the US. He is also a Certified Director, under the SECP’s Listed Companies Regulations, from the Institute of Cost and Management Accountants.

Azhar Aslam has 30+ years of multi product experience across wholesale and consumer banking including expertise in Islamic and sustainable finance with multinational banks including American Express, Citi, Dubai Islamic and Standard Chartered. He has experience in supervising diversified businesses, climate risk, governance & risk management as well as product management.​

Azhar is Head of Islamic Banking, the second largest market in the Islamic Banking (Saadiq) network along with double hatting as Governance Head for Centre and North. Prior to re-joining Standard Chartered, Azhar was Group Head, Corporate and Investment Banking with Dubai Islamic Bank, and was instrumental as one of the core members for establishing the franchise in Pakistan.​

In his current role, Azhar has structured landmark Shariah compliant deals including the first foreign currency sovereign Sukuk, first World Bank PCG backed facility and LNG trade finance for sovereigns by diversifying investor base. Azhar also currently leads the transformational change at SC Pakistan in converting the entire ecosystem of Pakistan to Shariah compliant solutions at the backs of the court judgment.​

Azhar has been representing the bank in the sustainable finance working group of the State Bank of Pakistan and has provided strategic input to the group by leveraging on the SC Group’s sustainable finance capabilities. He has collaborated with the group’s sustainability team to migrate best practices from the SC to the local market.​

Azhar is a member of the Advisory Council of Lahore School of Management Sciences for Islamic Finance and a member of the Pakistan Banking Association Committee on Islamic Banking.​

He actively participates in community services through volunteering for social causes like education and supports the less privileged in society.​

Azhar holds an MBA from the Institute of Business Administration, Karachi.

Farmida Bi CBE has been our Europe, Middle East and Asia chair since May 2018. When Norton Rose Fulbright LLP and Norton Rose Fulbright Australia integrated on July 1, 2025, she became EMEAPAC Chair. Her priorities are supporting Norton Rose Fulbright’s vision of providing exceptional client service and fostering a culture of inclusivity and connectivity across the firm’s 50+ offices worldwide. Farmida has continued to work in her own practice of debt capital markets and Islamic finance, and she has a particular interest in the role Islamic finance, as a form of ethical finance, can play in unlocking funding for ESG initiatives designed to promote the UN Social Development Goals. Recognized in the ‘Hall of Fame’ for both debt capital markets and Islamic finance in The Legal 500 UK 2022, Farmida’s leadership and practice have also been acknowledged with awards such as the Financial News ’Fifty Most Influential Lawyers 2022′, ‘Top 20 Most Influential in Legal Services 2021’ and ‘100 Most Influential Women in European Finance’ from 2019-2021; the HERoes Top 100 Role Model List 2022, 2020 and 2019; The Lawyer’s ‘Hot 100 Leaders 2019’; the ‘Outstanding Practitioner Award 2019’ at the Euromoney: Europe Women in Business Law Awards; ‘Finance Team of the Year 2018′ at the Legal Business Awards; and the Financial Times ’100 Innovative Lawyers Europe 2018’. In addition to her work at Norton Rose Fulbright, Farmida is also Chair of Trustees for the Barbican Centre Trust (which raises funding for the Barbican, the largest performing arts center in Europe) and for the Patchwork Foundation (a charity that promotes engagement in politics and civil society for young people from disadvantaged backgrounds). Farmida was recognized for her services to the law and to charity by the UK’s HM The Queen in the 2020 Birthday Honours by being made a Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (CBE). She is a graduate of Downing College, Cambridge and qualified as a solicitor in 1992, and as a New York attorney in 1999.

Husain is a vastly experienced banker who has been working within the Islamic financial marketplace for the past 30 years for various highly regarded regional and international financial institutions. Most recently, he held senior executive positions within MFAI (Jersey), a wholly-owned subsidiary of DMI Group. This followed his tenure as COO in the CMA-licensed Gulf Investors Asset Management Company.

Having started his career in banking in Bahrain, Husain was appointed the Regional Director and Head of GCC and Islamic banking at Societe Generale where he was based in Dubai. Prior to returning to Bahrain as CEO of Investment Dar Bank, Husain was the General Manager of ADNIF, the Islamic subsidiary of National Bank of Abu Dhabi.

Iffat Zehra Mankani is the Chief Executive Officer of JS Investments. She comes with globally diversified experience of over two decades in both public and private markets across multiple asset classes. During her work experiences in the capital markets in Pakistan, she held various senior strategy and research roles, both on the buy and sell-side of the industry, including the National Investment Trust, JS Investments and BMA Asset Management Company. Working as a sell side analyst, Iffat was often quoted in the financial press, and was well known for her accuracy as a strategist. In her buy-side roles as Chief Investment Officer at JS Investments (2005-2007) and BMA Asset Management (2007-2011), Iffat led the successful implementation of a disciplined asset and risk allocation process, resulting in consistent top quartile performance for funds under management. These included some pioneering products in the industry such as the asset allocation fund, capital protected fund, index fund, an offshore listed hedge fund and separately managed accounts. Prior to joining JS Investments, Iffat was working in the Deals Advisory team at PwC Canada, where she made significant contributions in the space of complex financial instruments and private debt valuations among others, helping to steer the business toward sustainable growth. Moreover, she has also held diversified roles in the risk management groups of leading Canadian Banks (Bank of Montreal and CIBC) associated with their quants and trading risk oversight teams. In addition to making numerous value additions in her role as a Risk Manager of Equity, Fixed Income and Structured Product, she also spearheaded bank wide regulatory and infrastructure projects and initiatives. Iffat holds a Master of Finance from Rotman School of Management (University of Toronto) and an MBA from the Institute of Business Administration, Karachi.

Imtiaz Gadar is a seasoned finance professional with an award-winning career spanning over two decades. He has consistently delivered exceptional results across diverse areas of the financial industry including Portfolio Management, Investment Banking, Equity Brokerage, Research and Investor Relations. Prior to joining Al Meezan in August 2024, he was the Chief Executive Officer of JS Global Capital, where he orchestrated the firm’s ascent to a leadership position within the industry. His leadership was instrumental in securing multiple prestigious awards including a historic sweep of all five Brokerage Category Awards for FY24. Earlier, as Executive Vice-President and Head of Capital Markets at Bank Alfalah, he led teams across Public and Private Investment and Advisory functions. Under his guidance, the bank garnered consistent recognition as the Best in Investor Relations for eight consecutive years by the CFA Society Pakistan and secured awards in the category of Best Equity Corporate Finance House (Banks) on three separate occasions. His experience also includes key roles at JPMorgan Pakistan and the local affiliate of Bank of America – Merrill Lynch. He has executed complex transactions exceeding US$1.8 billion and is a CFA Charter holder and MBA Gold Medalist from IBA, Karachi.

Dr Irum Saba is a prominent figure in Islamic finance with over 21 years of experience in regulation, research, teaching and training. She currently serves as the Director of the Centre for Excellence in Islamic Finance at the Institute of Business Administration (IBA) in Karachi, and as an Associate Professor in the Department of Finance at IBA. She is also the Chairperson of the Islamic Capital Market Committee of the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan as of July 2024.

Dr Irum has made history as the first female to join a Shariah board in Pakistan, serving on the board of Salam Takaful since January 2022. Internationally recognized for her leadership, she has conducted training programs in Pakistan, Malaysia, the US, Saudi Arabia, Turkiye and the UK. She holds the Chartered Islamic Finance Professional qualification with distinction and a PhD in Islamic Finance from INCEIF. In addition to her academic and regulatory roles, Dr Saba is a sub-editor of the Journal of Islamic Finance Accountancy published by AAOIFI, Bahrain and an active member of the FPCCI Standing Committee on Islamic Economics and Finance.

Jawad Hashmi brings nearly three decades of experience in capital markets and banking services, with strong expertise in financial markets, operations, and risk advisory. He holds an MBA in Finance and has recently completed an MS in Management at the Institute of Business Administration (IBA), Karachi. He is also an Associate of the Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment (CISI), UK. At Pakistan Stock Exchange, Jawad has led key modernization initiatives, including the implementation of a new trading system replacing over 20-year-old infrastructure. He has also played a pivotal role in Islamic finance development, leading the successful launch of Government of Pakistan Ijarah Sukuk issuance through PSX – a milestone for Shariah compliant capital market offerings. Previously, he held senior roles at Emirates NBD Group, UAE, including COO of Emirates NBD Securities and Head of Operations & Business Support, and served in the Group’s Operational Risk Control unit. Jawad has also worked with Emirates Islamic Bank, IGI Investment Bank, and the then Lahore Stock Exchange. Jawad currently represents PSX on the Board of the Institute of Financial Markets of Pakistan. His local and international experience, particularly in Islamic finance, positions him well to contribute to discussions on Pakistan’s potential as a center for Islamic Capital Markets.

Dr Mufti Irshad Ahmad Aijaz (Member Shariah Board) holds advisory positions at a number of institutions and regularly delivers lectures on Islamic Economics and Finance at different forums and educational institutions, including IBA (Institute of Business Administration), NIBAF (SBP) and CIE (Centre for Islamic Economics – a division of Jamia Darul Uloom, Karachi). He holds Shadat-ul-Aalamia (Masters in Arabic and Islamic Studies) from Jamiatul Uloom Islamiyyah, Binnori Town, Karachi, Takhassus fi al-Iftaa (Specialization in Fatwa) from Jamia Darul Uloom, an MBA (Finance) from Iqra University, Karachi in addition to PhD from University of Karachi. Dr Mufti Irshad serves in many Shariah boards including Bank Islami Pakistan, Summit Bank. He is also the chairman of the of the Shariah Advisory Committee of State Bank of Pakistan, Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan and member of AAOIFI Sharia standard committee.

Mufti Muhammad Abdul Mubeen is the Head of Shariah Department for Group Islamic Banking function of Standard Chartered Bank for the past 14 years and Shariah Board Member/Shariah Advisor for Standard Chartered Bank Pakistan & Malaysia. Mufti Mubeen obtained Shahadat ul Alamiyyah from Jamiat ul Uloom il Islamiyyah, Allamah Binnori Town Karachi, Pakistan. He has done his Takhassus fil Ifta from Jamiah Darul- Uloom Karachi, Pakistan. He received his Master of Commercial Law from The University of Melbourne, Australia and LLB (Hons) Shariah & Law from International Islamic University, Islamabad. He was also a member of Shariah Advisors Forum (SAF) established by State Bank of Pakistan. He has taught different subjects of Shariah such as Usul ul Fiqh, Fiqh and Comparative Study of Law at different institutions in Pakistan. He has an extensive experience in the field of Islamic Finance and Insurance.

Dr. Mufti M. Sarfraz Nihal has got a decade long hands-on experience in the domain of Shariah Product Structuring, Shariah Audit & Shariah Compliance with reputable Islamic financial institutions namely, Al-Baraka Bank Pakistan Ltd. (Formerly Emirates Global Islamic Bank), Faysal Islamic Bank, Bank Al Habib Ltd. (IBD) & Standard Chartered Bank Pakistan Ltd. At present he is associated with Standard Chartered Bank Pakistan Ltd. (Saadiq) as Resident Shariah Board Member, heading the overall business according to Shariah perspective in Pakistan. He is well versed with both contemporary and religious education and a household name in the vocational qualification of the aforementioned domain. He is privileged to be specialized in Islamic Jurisprudence & Fatwa & Shadatat ul Aalamia (Darse Nizami) from Wifaq ul Madaris Pakistan. Moreover, he possesses PhD (Islamic Finance), MPhil (Economics), MSc (Economics) & M.A. (Arabic & Islamic Studies) degrees from University of Karachi. He also bears PGD (Islamic Banking & Finance) from CIE, CPT (Certified Professional trainer) from Finance Accreditation Agency Malaysia & CSAA from AAOIFI.

Muhammad Faisal Shaikh is the Head, Shariah Compliance & Advisory at Faysal Bank. Faysal Bank recently completed the conversion of its entire conventional banking business into a full-fledged Islamic bank. Islamic International Rating Agency (IIRA) recognized this conversion as a ‘first of its scale’ in the domain of Islamic banking, globally. As Head of Islamic Banking at Faysal Bank, he played a key role in the conversion process and ensured smooth conversion of the bank’s business. A graduate of the Institute of Business Administration, Karachi, he has over 24 years of experience in the field of Shariah structuring, compliance and product development. Prior to joining Faysal Bank, he was associated with BankIslami Pakistan and Meezan Bank as part of founding teams. He has been instrumental in the development of various pioneering Islamic corporate & consumer banking products and Sukuk structures in Pakistan including the Islamic Export Refinance Scheme of the State Bank of Pakistan and Pakistan’s inaugural sovereign International Sukuk. He led the team which converted conventional assets and liabilities of KASB Bank after its acquisition by BankIslami Pakistan. Prior to this, his team structured the acquisition and conversion of Citibank Pakistan’s conventional housing finance portfolio by BankIslami Pakistan. He was part of Meezan Bank’s founding team and was an active member of the team responsible for the conversion and merger of the Pakistan operations of Societe Generale into Meezan Bank. He also played an important role in the development of pioneering commercial banking products under Islamic modes of finance. Given his experience in the conversion process, SBP has nominated him as a member of multiple working groups of the Committee for Transformation of Conventional Banking into Islamic.

Muhammad Haris Munawar is a seasoned corporate and investment banking executive with more than 22 years of experience across Islamic and conventional finance. His expertise spans corporate finance, project finance, debt capital markets, and Islamic finance. Recently, he has assumed the role of Group Head – Wholesale Banking at BankIslami Pakistan Limited. Prior to this, he led the investment banking franchise, where he built and scaled the business, delivering pioneering transactions such as Pakistan’s first Islamic Commercial Paper and the country’s first fully listed ADT1 Sukuk. Under his leadership, the bank achieved multi-billion-Rupee asset growth, higher fee revenues, improved capital adequacy, and industry recognition through IFN and ABF awards. Muhammad has contributed to governance and market development as a member of SECP’s Committee on Islamic Accounting & Auditing Standards and PSX’s Islamic Capital Market Focus Group. He also served as nominee director on the boards of Renacon Pharma Ltd (2024–to date) and BIPL Modaraba Company (2019–2021). With an MBA from IBA Karachi and an FCMA, Muhammad is also an IBP Gold Medalist and has pursued executive education from LUMS, IBA, ICAP, and NIBAF.

Nadir Rahman has extensive, hands-on experience in capital markets in Pakistan and internationally, stretching over 34 years, of which 18 years have been in C-level positions, including board-level experience with listed, unlisted, and international companies. His core areas of expertise are business development, operations, investment management, M&A, and corporate restructuring. He has advised on numerous capital market transactions, including the largest de-listing in Pakistan’s history.

His last appointment was with the Pakistan Stock Exchange for 3 years as COO. Prior to that, he has served as CEO of BMA Capital Management for 3 years, Group CEO in Mega & Forbes, and CEO at KASB Securities, JS Global Capital, and Mashreq Asset Management. He was the founder and first CEO of Foundation Securities. In addition, he has been associated with Bukhatir Investments, Fauji Foundation, Standard Chartered Bank, ABN AMRO/Rothschild, and Citibank in various junior, middle, and senior management roles. In terms of geography, Nadir has travelled to and done business in over 20 countries.

Academically, Nadir holds dual Bachelor’s degrees from the University of Pennsylvania – The Wharton School and The College of Arts and Sciences.

Naureen is a serial entrepreneur and lending specialist with over 15 years of experience in digital lending, risk management, and microfinance. She founded two companies, Tez Financial Services and CheckIn Solutions. Tez became the first fintech in Pakistan to be granted a Non-Bank Financial Company (NBFC) license in 2018, carving out a specialized niche in consumer lending for the unbanked and underbanked segments in Pakistan. It also marked the country’s first fintech M&A deal when acquired by Zood in 2022, where Naureen continued as CEO, leading both the Pakistan office and global projects for the group. Currently, she is building her next venture focused on SME lending. Naureen serves on the boards of various companies and has collaborated with regulators and multilateral agencies in shaping policies and initiatives for Pakistan’s financial inclusion ecosystem. Her expertise is further strengthened by her experience at The Pakistan Credit Rating Agency, specializing in microfinance, banking, and NBFCs, and her role as an Assessor for the SMART Campaign, which deepened her commitment to financial inclusion. She previously served as Head of Finance and Planning at Shopistan and was a member of The Pakistan Society for Planned Parenthood, contributing to initiatives on women empowerment, education, and mental health. Naureen studied Inclusive Finance at Harvard Business School and holds a degree in finance, along with membership in the CFA community. Recognized globally as a leader and innovator, she has been featured in Forbes, Reuters (Salaam Gateway), the Women in Fintech Powerlist, Business Financing UK, and other international publications.

Noshad Minhas has over 20 years’ experience in banking and fintech, and has pioneered innovations in buy now pay later, payment optimization, remittances, and employee banking. While at QisstPay, he secured Pakistan’s first BNPL NBFC license and scaled fintech solutions across markets. His leadership at Silk Bank Emaan Islamic Banking and Fasset reflects a consistent focus on digital transformation and inclusion. At Walee Financial Services, he drives the future of Islamic finance through technology-led innovation that expands access for underserved communities.

With extensive experience of 25 years in banking and digital finance, Rukhsana currently serve as Chief Treasury & Alternate Investments at Raqami Islamic Digital Bank –Pakistan’s first fully digital Islamic bank – where she leads the development of innovative Shariah compliant financial solutions and oversees treasury, FX, ALCO and investment functions. She works closely with the CEO and Board to drive strategic decision-making, liquidity management and rating initiatives aligned with digital banking best practices. Previously, she headed the Treasury Division at Sindh Bank, managing a PKR 300+ billion balance sheet and executing FX hedging and liquidity strategies. Her career also includes roles at the Asian Development Bank, where she helped establish the Sindh Fund Management House, and at leading asset management firms like NBP Funds and BMA, where Narejo specialized in fixed income and portfolio management. Her deep expertise in treasury, digital finance, financial markets and regulatory-aligned investment strategy positions her as a leader in modern banking transformation.

Saleemullah Shaikh is a seasoned Islamic banking professional with over two decades of extensive experience across the financial services industry. Throughout his distinguished career, he has held several senior leadership positions at leading institutions including MCB Islamic Bank, MBL, HBL, ABL, and NIB. His previous roles include Deputy CEO, Country Head of Credit Risk, and Country Head of Commercial & SME Banking. Mr. Shaikh brings a strong blend of strategic vision, leadership, and deep industry expertise to his current role at HabibMetro. He holds an MBA in Business and Finance from SZABIST and has earned multiple professional certifications in banking and financial management.

Shauzab Ali is a seasoned Chartered Accountant with over 30 years of experience in banking, finance and regulatory sectors. Currently leading financial sector development in Pakistan for the Asian Development Bank, Shauzab focuses on financial inclusion, sustainable finance and financial sector reforms. He is currently leading mutli-million-dollar projects in ADB in the areas of inclusive, sustainable finance and innovation. During his tenure as Commissioner at the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan, Shauzab led transformative initiatives to modernize Pakistan’s capital markets and financial regulations. His leadership extended to revising public offering regulations, resulting in record capital mobilization from the stock market. Shauzab’s contributions laid the groundwork for a more inclusive, efficient and investor-friendly financial ecosystem in Pakistan. During a previous tenure with ADB, Shauzab served as Unit Head for the financial sector in Pakistan where he designed program loans, technical assistance and capacity development initiatives. At Standard Chartered, Shauzab was responsible for origination and client coverage, managing corporate portfolios across diverse sectors including sovereigns, MNCs and local corporates. He structured innovative transactions such as the Government of Pakistan’s sovereign Sukuk backed by infrastructure assets like motorways and airports. At Allied Bank, he was instrumental in originating and managing large and complex project finance transactions across sectors like energy, cement and manufacturing. As Head of Project Finance, he structured multi-billion-dollar transactions, conducted financial and risk analyses and negotiated complex credit and legal documentation. Shauzab’s expertise spans development finance, digital transformation, corporate and investment banking, regulation of financial and corporate sector as well as public policy reforms.

Dr. Syed Amir Ali is an experienced Islamic banking professional holding qualifications in finance, accounting, business, and law. With over 20 years of experience in finance, treasury, investment, and corporate banking, he has worked with domestic and international organizations including A.F Ferguson & Co, Shell, BankIslami Pakistan Limited, and Meezan Bank. He is a qualified Chartered Financial Analyst from The CFA Institute, USA, a Chartered Certified Accountant from The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, UK, and a Chartered Accountant from the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Pakistan. He is also an MBA from Hamdard University, Karachi and LL.B. from University of Karachi. Syed first joined Meezan Bank in 2006, spearheading the corporate and investment group, before transitioning to BankIslami in 2018 as President & CEO. He currently serves as the Deputy CEO of Meezan Bank.

One of the forerunners in modern day consulting in Pakistan, Faraz is well-recognized for his contribution notably in the world of digital and financial services. He consistently spearheads thought leadership initiatives, actively participates in economic and regulatory reform agenda as well as initiatives pertaining to financial sector policy making and acts as a catalyst, influencer and enabler to stakeholders on key market developments, challenges and macroeconomic trends. Recently, Faraz has worked extensively with many stakeholders in Islamic banking conversion, digital, fintech, e-commerce and start-up spaces and spearheaded many industry capacity building initiatives. He speaks at various platforms, delivers knowledge sharing sessions and authors research publications relating to the evolving Islamic banking and digital landscape.

Syed Tanveer Hussain is the Group Executive and SEVP at Meezan Bank, where he oversees financing and trade portfolios. Respectively, playing a pivotal role in sustaining the Bank’s strong profitability and solidifying its reputation as one of Pakistan’s most sound financial institutions. A Chartered Accountant (ACA, England & Wales) and FCCA (UK), he also holds an MBA from IBA Karachi and has further enhanced his leadership credentials at Harvard Business School, USA. Renowned for pioneering innovative banking solutions, he has driven the growth of key business verticals such as Corporate and Commercial Banking, SME and Supply Chain Finance, Trade Finance, Agriculture Lending, and Digital Banking. His leadership at Meezan Bank and previously at Bank Alfalah has significantly expanded access to Islamic banking across the business and retail sectors. With a distinguished record of transforming organizations, fostering innovation, and mentoring future leaders, Syed Tanveer Hussain stands out as a visionary change-maker and a passionate advocate for the advancement of Islamic finance.

Syed Umair Alam Zaidi is the Head of Debt Capital Markets & Syndications at Faysal Bank Limited. He brings over 17 years of diversified experience in investment banking, with expertise in financial due diligence, credit risk management, valuation and financial modelling, legal documentation, deal structuring, relationship management, and team leadership. Over the course of his career, he has worked on numerous financial advisory, capital market, mergers and acquisitions, structured finance, corporate finance, and debt restructuring transactions for major corporate clients across various sectors. Umair has well-established expertise in investment banking, corporate finance, Islamic banking, advisory, and credit risk, and is highly regarded among his peers for his results-oriented approach and professionalism. He played a key role in Faysal Bank’s successful transformation from a conventional bank into one of Pakistan’s leading Islamic banks. Prior to joining Faysal Bank, he began his career at MCB Bank Limited, where he progressed from an Analyst to supervisory roles. Umair holds an MBA from Karachi University Business School, is a Junior Associate of the Institute of Bankers Pakistan (JAIBP), and a CFA Charterholder from the CFA Institute, USA

Tariq is a Fellow Member of the Institute of Cost and Management Accountants of Pakistan. He also holds a Chartered Islamic Finance Professional degree from INCEIF, Malaysia and an MS in Islamic Banking and Finance from International Islamic University, Islamabad (IIUI). He is currently perusing his PhD in Islamic Banking and Finance from IIUI.

Tariq has extensive experience of more than 24 years in the field of capital market. He is currently serving as Head of Islamic Finance Department and Registrar Modaraba at SECP. Previously he has served in various departments in the SECP including the International Relations Department, Chairman’s Secretariat and Policy, Regulations and Development Department of the Securities Market Division. Before joining SECP in 2007, he worked with a leading stock brokerage house of the Islamabad Stock Exchange for a period of more than nine years.

He has attended several national and international trainings, conferences and seminars on capital markets besides delivering lectures and presentations for different audiences throughout Pakistan.

Tariq Sultan is CEO of Mahaana Capital, a digital brokerage company, and Chief Business Development Officer & COO of Mahaana Wealth, Pakistan’s first Shariah compliant Digital AMC, backed by Y Combinator USA, Vostock Emerging Finance Sweden, Sparklabs Global Hong Kong, and IGI Life Pakistan. Having graduated from IBA in 1989, Tariq has over 30 years of senior management and board-level experience in both the private and public sectors in Pakistan and Canada, and has helped achieve many landmark developments in the Telecom and Fintech sectors including the 3G & 4G spectrum auctions, implementation of Biometric Verification System, DIRBS system, enabling the Government to collect custom duties, a USSD based bank account opening platform, recognized by WEF, by declaring Pakistan as a Lighthouse Country, and Mahaana Wealth Ltd. Tariq has worked for CIBC, and has held CEO, Group CEO and board level positions at PTA, Mega Forbes Group, STZA, HoH, and Pathfinder Group. He was the founding partner and Director of First General Leasing Modaraba, General Fund Management Ltd., a corporate brokerage house, and Continental Fuel Services (Pvt.) Ltd, a CNG stations company. He is a CPA from Canada, ACA (ICAEW) and holds an M.Sc. in Accounting and Finance from University of Manchester.

Yousaf Hussain, President and CEO of Faysal Bank, has over 30 years of professional experience, having held senior leadership roles in organizations such as ABN AMRO, Samba Bank, Mashreq Bank-UAE and Mobilink, previously a subsidiary of Motorola. He joined Faysal Bank in 2008 and has since played a pivotal role in driving the bank’s transformation and growth. As the visionary leader of Faysal Bank, Yousaf led its conversion from a conventional bank into one of Pakistan’s leading Islamic banks. Under his guidance, the Bank introduced innovative Islamic products and enhanced distribution efficiency through a customer-centric, technology-driven approach. The large-scale transformation was also recognized by the Islamic International Rating Agency (IIRA) as the world’s largest Islamic conversion, highlighting Yousaf’s crucial role in reshaping the banking landscape. In addition to his role at Faysal Bank, serves as the President of the Overseas Investors Chamber of Commerce & Industry (OICCI). He is committed to promoting diversity, inclusion and corporate social responsibility with a focus on education, health and ESG. Yousaf is actively engaged in several strategic initiatives within the banking and financial sector, working closely with the State Bank of Pakistan. He currently serves as the Senior Vice-Chairman of the Pakistan Banks Association and a Council Member at the National Institute of Banking & Finance. He is also a member of the Management Committee at IBA’s Centre for Excellence in Islamic Finance and a Director at Pakistan Business Council. He holds a BS in Electrical Engineering with a specialization in Telecommunications and an MBA from the Lahore University of Management Sciences.

Zaid Naveed is an accomplished leader with 15 years of experience in banking, business strategy and business development across Canada, Pakistan and Bahrain. At Habib Bank AG Zurich, Zaid is driving the expansion of Islamic banking in five key markets: Switzerland, the UK, South Africa, the UAE and Pakistan. Previously, he led the launch of Trellis, an Islamic FinTech in Pakistan, enabling digital home financing for first-time buyers. Additionally, as a consultant and early investor in Keela, a Canadian startup, he contributed to its market success and eventual acquisition by a major software provider. Zaid Naveed is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and holds an MSc in Finance from DePaul University (USA) and a BCom from McGill University (Canada). He has also attained certifications in Islamic Finance, further enhancing his expertise in Shariah-compliant banking and finance.

Ahmed Ali Siddiqui is Senior Executive Vice-President and Head Shariah Compliance, Meezan Bank. Ahmed holds a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Business Administration from the Institute of Business Administration, Karachi. His areas of specialization include Islamic Finance and MIS. He has over 22 years of rich Islamic banking experience and is involved in pioneering work in the field of Islamic finance in Pakistan. His major areas of interest are Shariah compliant product development, Sovereign Sukuk and deal structuring, development of innovative solutions for retail, corporate and consumer banking, formulation of policy guidelines, Islamic banking training, Shariah audit, applicative research and Islamic financial advisory services. He is the Founding Director of IBA Centre for Excellence in Islamic Finance, an emerging global center for Islamic finance research, academic programs, professional training and industry interaction. He leads one of the largest research departments in the Islamic banking world with around 40 dedicated team members. He is also the Secretary for the Shariah Supervisory Board at Meezan Bank Limited. His previous assignments include the launching of Car Ijarah – Pakistan’s first Islamic car financing scheme and Easy Home – Pakistan’s first Islamic housing finance as Product Manager in Pakistan. Ahmed is also part of the joint financial advisors team to the Government of Pakistan for the issuance of local currency Sovereign Sukuk and Islamic financing transactions and has advised the government in structuring and issuance of Sukuk/Islamic transactions of over US$13 billion dollars. He also led the consortium of Islamic banks in Pakistan for the Issuance of 400 BN First and Second Pakistan Energy Sukuk issued by the Ministry of Energy, Government of Pakistan. Ahmed has served and is also a member of several task forces at the Central Bank level related to Islamic banking products, Islamic banking regulations, governance framework, accounting disclosures and adoption of AAOIFI Shariah standards. He is also actively involved in Islamic banking training activities and has conducted various training sessions, corporate workshops and seminars on different Islamic Banking topics. Ahmed is a frequent speaker on Islamic banking at the National Institute of Banking and Finance (State Bank of Pakistan), Export Promotion Bureau, LUMS and Center of Islamic Economics (CIE), Karachi and has conducted several specialized workshops in UAE, Bahrain, Malaysia, Australia and the UK.

Ammara Masood is the Global Industries GM for Banking and Financial Services at Systems Limited, a leading global technology firm and systems integrator. With over 29 years of experience, Ammara has a distinguished career in IT strategy, consulting and digital transformation across the banking, telecom and high-tech sectors. She has played pivotal roles in founding and leading IT companies across the US, Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa, driving some of the industry’s largest transformation initiatives. Ammara is known for opening new markets, implementing institutional reforms and turning around companies, bringing her expertise in governance and strategic leadership to every role. She serves as an Independent Director for the Central Depository Company and holds positions on the Governing Council of Pakistan Single Window and the Industry Advisory Board of Habib University. She has also held leadership roles in the Pakistan Software Houses Association and DataCheck. Her contributions to the industry have been recognized globally, including leadership awards at the 2021 and 2022 Global Banking Tech Awards in London. Ammara holds an MBA in Information Sciences from California State University, San Bernardino, and an Executive Diploma in Strategic Uses of Information Sciences from Stanford University.

Azeem Pirani is COO and Executive Director at EFU Life Assurance. Prior to this, he was the CEO at Pak-Qatar Family Takaful. Azeem is a Founding Trustee at Ihsaas Trust, a provider of microfinance, dedicated to developing sustainable livelihoods for the economically challenged, and providing social support. Azeem holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Islamic Banking & Finance from the Centre of Islamic Economics in Pakistan, an MBA in International Business from the University of New Brunswick in Canada, and a BBA in Finance from the University of Houston in the US. He is also a Certified Director, under the SECP’s Listed Companies Regulations, from the Institute of Cost and Management Accountants.

With over 23 years of professional experience, Faisal Islam is a recognized leader in digital finance, product innovation, and financial inclusion. Faisal’s work focuses on closing the financing gap for MSMEs through a range of Shariah-compliant digital products, including Islamic consumer financing, Islamic BNPL, invoice financing, agricultural finance, and Islamic card solutions. He has also pioneered the design of AI-driven, Shariah-compliant alternative credit scoring models, aimed at expanding financial access to underserved segments. In addition, he has successfully established regulatory-aligned Islamic financing operations in emerging markets. His expertise spans the full spectrum of product development from Shariah structuring and partner bank enablement to building embedded finance ecosystems, always ensuring alignment with Islamic ethical standards. His initiatives have been instrumental in advancing cashless economies and promoting financial inclusion through innovative loyalty programs, digital onboarding solutions, and incentive-based payment ecosystems. Beyond Islamic finance, Faisal brings a strong background in technology leadership, with extensive experience across banking, fintech, retail, and asset management sectors.

Dr Irum Saba is a prominent figure in Islamic finance with over 21 years of experience in regulation, research, teaching and training. She currently serves as the Director of the Centre for Excellence in Islamic Finance at the Institute of Business Administration (IBA) in Karachi, and as an Associate Professor in the Department of Finance at IBA. She is also the Chairperson of the Islamic Capital Market Committee of the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan as of July 2024.

Dr Irum has made history as the first female to join a Shariah board in Pakistan, serving on the board of Salam Takaful since January 2022. Internationally recognized for her leadership, she has conducted training programs in Pakistan, Malaysia, the US, Saudi Arabia, Turkiye and the UK. She holds the Chartered Islamic Finance Professional qualification with distinction and a PhD in Islamic Finance from INCEIF. In addition to her academic and regulatory roles, Dr Saba is a sub-editor of the Journal of Islamic Finance Accountancy published by AAOIFI, Bahrain and an active member of the FPCCI Standing Committee on Islamic Economics and Finance.

Dr. Marjan Muhammad is the Deputy President Research at ISRA Institute, INCEIF University. In her current capacity, she oversees different portfolios including research and innovation, research management, assessment and publication, research commercialization, and Islamic finance online database (I-FIKR) developed by ISRA. She was previously the Director of Research Affairs Department at ISRA from 2013-2017. She is currently a member of the Shariah Advisory Council of Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) effective from 1 November 2019 and a member of the Shariah Advisory Council of Securities Commission Malaysia (SC) effective from 1 July 2023. Prior to that, she was a member of Shariah Committee at a few local Islamic banks. At the international level, she sits on the Advisory Committee of Experts of Lotus Bank Limited and Shariah Supervisory Board of Lotus Capital Limited, both are based in Nigeria. Marjan obtained her bachelor’s degree in Islamic Revealed Knowledge and Heritage (Fiqh and Usul al-Fiqh) from the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) and graduated from her master’s and PhD degrees at the same university.

Muhammad Faisal Shaikh is the Head, Shariah Compliance & Advisory at Faysal Bank. Faysal Bank recently completed the conversion of its entire conventional banking business into a full-fledged Islamic bank. Islamic International Rating Agency (IIRA) recognized this conversion as a ‘first of its scale’ in the domain of Islamic banking, globally. As Head of Islamic Banking at Faysal Bank, he played a key role in the conversion process and ensured smooth conversion of the bank’s business. A graduate of the Institute of Business Administration, Karachi, he has over 24 years of experience in the field of Shariah structuring, compliance and product development. Prior to joining Faysal Bank, he was associated with BankIslami Pakistan and Meezan Bank as part of founding teams. He has been instrumental in the development of various pioneering Islamic corporate & consumer banking products and Sukuk structures in Pakistan including the Islamic Export Refinance Scheme of the State Bank of Pakistan and Pakistan’s inaugural sovereign International Sukuk. He led the team which converted conventional assets and liabilities of KASB Bank after its acquisition by BankIslami Pakistan. Prior to this, his team structured the acquisition and conversion of Citibank Pakistan’s conventional housing finance portfolio by BankIslami Pakistan. He was part of Meezan Bank’s founding team and was an active member of the team responsible for the conversion and merger of the Pakistan operations of Societe Generale into Meezan Bank. He also played an important role in the development of pioneering commercial banking products under Islamic modes of finance. Given his experience in the conversion process, SBP has nominated him as a member of multiple working groups of the Committee for Transformation of Conventional Banking into Islamic.

Dr Muhammad Imran Ashraf Usmani graduated with specialisation in Islamic Fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence) from Jamia Darul-Uloom, Karachi, where he has been teaching Fiqh since 1990. He also holds an L.L.B and Ph.D. in Islamic finance. Dr. Imran Usmani is the Group Head and Vice Chairman of Shariah Supervisory board at Meezan Bank Ltd. He is also the Resident Sharia Board Member at Meezan Bank and is responsible for Research and Product Development of Islamic banking products, advisory for Sharia-compliant banking and supervision of Sharia Audit & Compliance. He is also the President and CEO of Usmani & Co. Pvt. Ltd that provides full suite of Islamic finance consultancy, Shariah advisory and related ancillary services to local and international clients across all legal jurisdictions and financial and non-financial sectors. Dr. Imran Usmani has been involved with the Government of Pakistan in various initiatives and is also a member of the Steering Committee and implementation committee for promotion of Islamic Banking since 2013.

Muhammad Shoaib Ibrahim is the CEO of First Habib Modaraba, a 30 year old entity that has successfully maintained its leading position within Modaraba sector of Pakistan. Under his leadership FHM has positioned itself in the Islamic financial market with a strong equity base, sound assets size and profitability. FHM holds a strong credit rating scale of AA+ in long term and A1+ in short term. Moreover, FHM has secured several awards/accolades from reputable bodies such as NBFI and Modaraba Association, ICAP and ICMAP, Management Association of Pakistan, and SAFA an apex body of SAARC during his tenor as CEO of FHM. With more than two decades’ experience in non-bank Islamic financial institutions and Modarabas, he is a senior expert on this topic in Pakistan. This experience has given him insight into the financial and technical aspects of the non-banking Islamic financial activities covering financial services, equity market and asset management. Mr. Shoaib holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in banking and finance from the Institute of Business Administration (IBA). He has also completed a Post Graduate Diploma (PGD) in Islamic Banking from the Centre of Islamic Economics (Darul Ulum), Karachi Pakistan.

Muhammad Zeeshan Farrukh has rich combination of qualification i.e. commerce, business administration, Islamic Finance & Islamic Studies and diversified experience of more than 18 years in the field of Islamic Banking & Finance with respect to Product Development, Shariah Compliance, Research, Teaching, Training, Advisory etc.

He has served various financial institutions i.e. BankIslami Pakistan Limited, United Bank Limited, Al Baraka Bank Pakistan Limited, National Bank of Pakistan and Bank Makramah Limited. Currently, he is working as Head Shariah Compliance Department & Secretary Shariah Board at Bank Makramah Limited. Besides banking experience, he also holds a position as Director – Research, Learning & Advisory Management at Global Institute of Shariah Research & Advisory Services (GISRAS) and serving as Adjunct Faculty at Institute of Business Management, Karachi

Mustafa Adil is the Head of Islamic Finance for the London Stock Exchange Group. He is responsible for leading the Islamic finance business for the organization, providing knowledge solutions and bespoke services to support the continued growth of the Islamic finance industry. He works in collaboration with government entities, multilateral organizations and financial institutions to support them in fulfilling their aspirations and executing their strategies in the Islamic finance space. These include the delivery of content solutions, research, consulting services and market engagement. He also spearheads the development of new initiatives or services that meet the increasingly sophisticated needs of the industry across markets

Tariq is a Fellow Member of the Institute of Cost and Management Accountants of Pakistan. He also holds a Chartered Islamic Finance Professional degree from INCEIF, Malaysia and an MS in Islamic Banking and Finance from International Islamic University, Islamabad (IIUI). He is currently perusing his PhD in Islamic Banking and Finance from IIUI.

Tariq has extensive experience of more than 24 years in the field of capital market. He is currently serving as Head of Islamic Finance Department and Registrar Modaraba at SECP. Previously he has served in various departments in the SECP including the International Relations Department, Chairman’s Secretariat and Policy, Regulations and Development Department of the Securities Market Division. Before joining SECP in 2007, he worked with a leading stock brokerage house of the Islamabad Stock Exchange for a period of more than nine years.

He has attended several national and international trainings, conferences and seminars on capital markets besides delivering lectures and presentations for different audiences throughout Pakistan.

Tayyaba Rasheed is Investment Specialist, Private Sector Operations Department at Asian Development Bank. Previously, she held the position of executive vice-president/head of the Investment Banking Group at Faysal Bank. She is highly qualified with more than 20 years of diversified corporate and investment banking experience, and a proven successful career in investment banking, corporate banking and corporate finance with profound skills in project financing, infrastructure financing, Sukuk issuance, syndication, capital markets, credit risk and Islamic finance. She is a well-known corporate and investment banker with an exceptional track record of closing large-ticket complex deals and is focused on delivering results across the board. She has closed and led several key mandates in the infrastructure financing area, in particular the renewable energy space. She has worked in senior positions at CIBG NBP and Bank Alfalah where she started her career as a management trainee officer. Tayyaba holds an MBA from the Institute of Business Administration and is a CFA and FRM charter holder. She holds a junior associateship from the Institute of Bankers Pakistan. She successfully completed the National Institute of Banking and Finance certification program and underwent a thorough Islamic finance training program. She has also completed the Directors Training Program and is now a certified independent director. Tayyaba also serves as an independent board director on the boards of several listed companies.