Board of Directors

Dr. Rashid Bajwa (Chairman/NRSP Designate)

Dr. Rashid Bajwa is currently working as Chief Executive Officer of the National Rural Support Program (NRSP). At NRSP, he has been overseeing the largest rural development operations of Pakistan. NRSP�s mandate is to alleviate poverty by harnessing people�s potential and undertake development activities in Pakistan. His other areas of specialization include project management, fund management and development of implementation strategies. He has also been holding various honorary positions such as Chairman Pakistan Microfinance Network, Member State Bank of Pakistan�s committee of Rural Finance, Member of the General Body of the Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund, and Sindh Rural Support Program.

Mr. Shoaib Sultan Khan (NRSP Designate)

Mr. Shoaib Sultan Khan is the founder of Aga Khan Rural Support Program, National Rural Support Program (NRSP) and Sarhad Rural Support Program. Presently he is serving as the Honorary Chairman of the Board of Directors of Rural Support Program Network (RSPN), National Rural Support Program (NRSP), Ghazi Barotha Taraqiati Idara (GBTI), Sindh Rural Support Organization (SRSO) and Director of Aga Khan Rural Support Program (AKRSP). Mr. Shoaib Sultan Khan has set up demonstration pilots in the six countries of the SAARC region on the pattern of the AKRSP. He is the recipient of Global 500 award in 1989, Sitara-i-Imtiaz in 1990, Ramon Magsaysay Award in 1992 and WWF Conservation Medal in 1994.

Mr. Fazlullah Qureshi (NRSP Designate)

Mr.Fazlullah Qureshi started his career as a civil servant and held various positions including the Chief Executive/MD of Federal Bank for Co-operative, Federal Secretary Planning & Development (Statistical Division), Vice Chairman and Member National Electric Power Regulatory Authority. Presently, Mr. Fazlullah Qureshi is serving as Board member of various RSPs, International NGOs and educational institutes like IBA- Karachi and the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Pakistan Steel Mills. He is also heading the Finance committee of NRSP�s Board of Directors. In this Capacity Mr. Qureshi reviews in detail the microfinance operations, budgets and strategic plans of the organization with recommendations for refinement /approval to the Board.

Mr. Naeem Zamindar (Acumen Designate)

Mr. Naeem Zamindar is the Country Director & CEO of Acumen. Mr.Naeem is a seasoned investment banker and financial services expert. He has successfully managed and executed 23 venture capital investments, 4 acquisitions and 1 spinout. He has vast experience in telecom industry and financial sector. He also remained CEO/President at Wateen Telecom.

Ms. Amena Arif (IFC Designate)

Ms.Amena Arif is currently working with IFC as Senior Investment Officer (Financial Markets MENA Region).Ms ameena is an experienced banker with over 13 years of experience with CITI bank in various capacities. She has also been a part of Hikmah Consultants for 3 years.

Ms. Christiane Schmidt (KfW Designate)

Ms. Schmidt is the Senior Project Manager of Infrastructure and Financial Sector in KfW. She holds 20 years of professional experience in international development finance in Sub-sahara Africa, MENA, Eastern Europe and Pakistan. She also has understanding of international climate finance architecture. Having vast knowledge of renewable energy and microfinance, she has proven track record in structuring, negotiating and closing commercial transactions in export, project and corporate finance.

Mr. Rashid Ali Khan (Independent Director)

Mr. Rashid Ali Khan has 27 years of experience in Global Financial Management and Business Development in both OECD countries and Emerging Markets. He has a multi-tiered professional experience in banking, finance, consumer marketing and corporate restructuring at senior executive level including implementation of large-scale computer systems and proprietary telecom networks for Citibank in Europe and Saudi Arabia. In addition, he has successfully launched Islamic Banking in Pakistan, founded a successful telecom venture and a real estate development company.

Mr. Zahoor Hussain Khan (CEO/President NRSP Bank)

Mr.Zahoor Hussain Khan serves as the President/CEO of NRSP Bank where he has led the whole transformation process of NRSP Bahawalpur Region�s microfinance operations into a fully regulated and licensed NRSP Microfinance Bank Limited. He has vast experience of designing, planning, monitoring, policy formulation and product development for rural microfinance. In addition to microfinance, he has extensive experience in providing hands-on leadership and direction in social organization of rural communities, design, planning, implementation and monitoring of rural development programs.