Our Story

Dr. Yasmeen Qazi, a distinguished leader in reproductive health and social development, brings over 30 years of experience at national and international levels. She has served as Senior Country Advisor for both the Gates Foundation  and the Packard Foundation, overseeing $100 million in grants and championing women's and girls' rights to quality healthcare. Dr. Qazi’s innovative approaches and expertise have significantly advanced reproductive health initiatives in Pakistan. Her work includes establishing high standards of medical care, developing comprehensive management information systems, and fostering partnerships among NGOs, government, and international donors

Dr. Ifthikar Soomro, our esteemed Director of Programs. With a profound specialization in primary healthcare, sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), and human rights advocacy, Dr. Soomro brings a wealth of experience to our team. Previously, he was a consultant for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, spearheading advocacy efforts in family planning and maternal and child health, and served as an advisor for the Packard Foundation, both in Pakistan. Dr. Soomro is dedicated to advancing global health equity and empowering communities worldwide.

With a background in Economics  from the University of Toronto, Zaeem excels in project administration and finance support. With extensive experience as a trainer for ExpandNet since 2023, Zaeem has honed his skills in strategic planning, capacity building, and project evaluation. His expertise ensures efficient management of complex projects, making him a valuable asset in any administrative and financial role

A Public Health Physician specializing in Health Systems and Policy, with deep expertise in Health Promotion and Social and Behavior Change (SBC). Holding degrees in medicine, an MPH in Health Policy, and a DrPH in Heath Behavior from The George Washington University, USA, he is recognized for his impactful contributions. As an independent consultant, he provides technical assistance to esteemed organizations like Pathfinder International, the Aga Khan University, and the Aga Khan Foundation. Dr. Gul's extensive experience includes roles as Senior Global Technical Advisor for SBC and Health Markets for Pathfinder International,  Director Business Strategy with Marie Stopes Society, and Project Director DAFPAK Project. He is visiting faculty at The Aga Khan University and serves as Secretary General to the Population Association of Pakistan. Dr. Gul's dedication to public health is rooted in his service with the Pakistan Army Medical Corps, and he currently resides in Karachi.

Kausar S Khan holds an MA in Philosophy from Karachi University and McMaster University, Canada. A Ph.D. candidate in Religious Studies at McMaster University, her work focuses on the centrality of community in health and development interventions. With extensive experience in community-based projects with organizations like FPAP and AKU, Kausar specializes in participatory approaches, bioethics, women's rights, and social determinants of health. Post-retirement from AKU, she continues to contribute as visiting faculty and advisor for community engagement programs across various institutions in Pakistan.

A sociologist, has actively contributed to policy and strategic planning for all Pakistan provinces. Currently working as a Technical Advisor to NIPS and UNFPA, Dr. Ahmed supports family planning and reproductive health initiatives and supervising Performance, Monitoring for Action Surveys in three provinces (Punjab, KP and Sindh).  Previously, as Principal Investigator of the Pakistan Maternal Mortality Survey 2019, he provided supervision and critical insights to the National Institute of Population Studies. He has led the development of Costed Implementation Plans and innovative family planning projects. Dr. Ahmed supported formulation of ‘Task Shifting and Sharing Strategies and Plan of Action’ for Population Welfare  and Health Depts across all provinces.  Previously, he served as Country Representative for Pathfinder International and taught at the Pakistan Institute of Development Economics.

Dr. Azra Ahsan, a Dow Medical College graduate, obtained membership and fellowship of the Royal College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists, UK. With vast experience spanning the UK, North Africa, the Middle East, and Pakistan.  Her expertise in Public Health drives her leadership as Vice President of the National Committee for Maternal and Neonatal Health and President of the Association for Mothers and New-borns. Notable for pioneering initiatives like Post-Partum Family Planning and Post-abortion Care,

Dr. Haris Ahmed, with over 29 years of experience in public health management, is a distinguished specialist in systems strengthening for Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health, family planning, and reproductive health. Holding a medical degree, an MPH, and a fellowship from the Royal Society for Public Health, Dr. Ahmed has led significant projects, including as Head of the Sukh Initiative, Team Lead – Sindh with Palladium, and Director of Programs at Pathfinder International. His expertise spans communicable diseases, humanitarian assistance, emergency preparedness, and health education. 

Dr. Ahmed excels in scaling up public health pilot projects, evidenced by his successful implementation of family health days. He serves as a member of the ExpandNet secretariat, he is board director of the Forum for Women Development and Research and has served on the steering committee of the Pakistan Alliance for Post Abortion Care. 

Professor Dr. Sadiah Ahsan Pal, MBBS, MRCOG, FRCOG, is a distinguished Consultant Obstetrician Gynaecologist and Fertility Specialist based in Karachi. With a stellar career spanning over two decades, she serves as the Medical Director and Consultant Gynaecologist at New Beginnings Hospital & Concept Fertility Centre, alongside holding key positions in prestigious medical organizations. Dr. Pal is renowned for her expertise in surgical operations, including Oncological surgery, IVF, and laparoscopic procedures. 

Ms. Khawar Mumtaz is a feminist activist and founder member of Women’s Action Forum, advocating for women's rights. Former Chairperson of the National Commission on the Status of Women and CEO of Shirkat Gah-Women’s Resource Centre, she received the Sitara-e-Imtiaz for her contributions.  With an MA in International Relations, she has extensively researched and written about women's realities and served on various international, regional, and national boards.

​Dr. Sameen Siddiqi is a professor of Public Health and Health Systems at Aga Khan University, Karachi. With 16 years of rich experience at the World Health Organization, he also served as Director of Health System Development and as WHO Representative to Lebanon and Iran. He also work with the World Bank and Pakistan's Ministry of Health. Dr. Siddiqi holds a fellowship in internal medicine and advanced degrees in public health. He has authored over 120 publications and serves on multiple international boards and committees.

A Public Health Specialist and with an experience of Law and Management for over 22 years. I studied medicine from Karachi, have a clinical experience of Gynae/Obst and proceeded to work in a fast, upscale environment of Public Health in various INGOs. Passionate about women health and system preparedness, the move to development sector was a natural fit from Technical advisor to Director Position. . She works at both the technical level as well as Policy level. She is a recipient of the American Presidential Award and Sindh Chief Minister’s Award for serving humanity and community services. Also worked at leadership and management position as Country Director, Jhpiego- Johns Hopkins University Affiliate based in Islamabad, Pakistan

Shazina has a proven track record of driving impactful initiatives across diverse settings. She has spearheaded transformative projects, including emergency care provision in Sindh, Pakistan and public health programs in Africa and Asia. Shazina's strategic acumen has been instrumental in forging key partnerships and securing vital resources. Armed with an MBA and an MS in Creativity from SUNY, NY, she continues to be a catalyst for positive change in global health.

A physician by training with a master's in public health from France and a PhD from the UK, is an expert in health systems and policy. He has led projects funded by USAID, WHO, and others, aimed at strengthening health systems as well as global health security. Babar has published over 145 peer-reviewed papers and supervised numerous MSPH and PhD theses. Recognized by the Royal College of Physicians Edinburgh and Royal Society of Public Health UK, he has served as Senior Technical Advisor for Pakistan’s Ministry of National Health Services and was Technical Lead of Health & Population Think Tank.

Rahal is a global health and international development professional with over 20 years of experience. She has a proven track record in managing multi-million dollar programs, coordinating with multiple stakeholders including donors, and delivering results in complex international environments. She has extensive experience in program management, partner engagement, and strategic program implementation and has worked with USAID and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Dr. Awan brings over 15 years of impactful leadership in development and humanitarian settings, having held notable positions like Country Director for Ipas, National Technical Advisor for UNFPA, and Team Lead for Mott MacDonalds (UK). His expertise spans SRH, FP, Health Systems’ policy and management, Climate Justice, and GBV/TIC, supported by proficiency in MERL. Renowned for leading complex programs, notably in MNCH and FP research, Dr. Awan adeptly navigates public sector intricacies and fosters strategic partnerships and collaborations nationally and globally. He is a published author in esteemed publications

Dr. Sameera Ali Rizvi, an epidemiologist and biostatistician, is an Assistant Professor and Head of Public Health at SZABIST University, Karachi. With extensive teaching and research experience from SZABIST and Aga Khan University, she manages MSPH, BSPH, and BS Nutrition Programs and serves on university committees. She received Fogarty training from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. She has various research grants, consultancy projects, & publications to her credit. 

Dedicated public health research and evaluation expert with a Master’s Degree in Sociology and over two decades of experience in health services, including grant proposal and report writing, developing data collection strategies, and planning and implementing large-scale surveys, clinical trials, health interventions, and policy redesign. Experienced in working on over 75+  Public Health Research and Intervention Projects while also helping collaborations with stakeholders in international NGOs, and UN organizations, governments and project area communities

Muhammad Shahzad is a human rights activist. He is the Founder and is currently working as the Executive Director of Chanan Development Association (CDA) - a national youth-led organization.  

Shahzad has more than 15 years of experience in mobilizing, sensitizing, training & engaging young people in the fields of SRHR, gender equality, human rights, civic and peace education, leadership & activism. Based on his work, he was presented “International Award for the Health and Dignity of Women and Girls” by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon in 2012 at a gala organized by Friends of UNFPA. He was honored with the Commonwealth Asia Youth Worker of the Year Award in 2015. He has served as a Consultant for UNDP, UNFPA, Commonwealth Secretariat, World Bank, British Council, Global Fund for Children and many national organizations.  

Mahnoor is a health professional focusing on gender, global health, maternal and child health, reproductive health, and water sanitation and hygiene. With extensive experience spanning international non-profits, community-based organizations, and universities she focuses on quantitative and qualitative research, data analysis, evaluation, project management, proposal design and development, and training. Her interest lies in advancing gender equity through mixed-methods research and evaluation, driving impactful interventions in the realm of public health.

Jamshaid is a seasoned development professional with 20 years of experience in family planning (FP) and sexual and reproductive health (SRHR). He has worked with leading organizations like Chemonics International and MSI Reproductive Choices. Renowned for his expertise in private sector engagement, social marketing, supply chain, and program design & management, he has significantly improved the lives of marginalized women and girls. He holds prestigious awards and advanced degrees in social sciences, social work, and computer sciences.

Joshua Dilawar is a versatile development practitioner with expertise in management, training, social mobilization, and youth development. With a strong commitment to community and self-development, Joshua has led projects and interventions focusing on human rights, youth empowerment, and community development. His skills include teamwork, project management, advocacy, and event management. Joshua holds an impressive educational background, including an MS in Political Science and certifications in leadership and training. He continues to make meaningful contributions to social development initiatives globally.

​Laraib Abid is the Executive Director of MASHAL, focused on gender equality and reproductive health rights through technological innovation. She leads initiatives like Bridge The GAP, endorsed by Women Deliver and UNFPA Pakistan. As a University of the Punjab lecturer, she teaches sociology, gender studies, and women's health. Laraib also serves on the Prime Minister's National Youth Council, advocating for health policy recommendations. Her dedication includes volunteer work, academic research, and international collaborations, driving youth advocacy and social change. She is a certified trainer by Bill and Melinda Gates Institute.

Aiman Haroon is a seasoned public health professional with expertise in program management, policy advocacy, maternal and child health, sexual and reproductive health, and strategic partnerships. With a proven track record of securing multimillion-dollar funding and leading impactful initiatives, she excels in proposal development, stakeholder engagement, communications, and capacity building. Aiman holds a Master of Science in Public Health from SZABIST and is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP®), underscoring her expertise in program management. Beyond her professional pursuits, Aiman hosts a morning drive-time show for a renowned radio channel in Karachi and actively practices as a Life Coach, inspiring individuals to achieve personal and professional growth.

​Since 2015, Junaid has been published numerous times nationally and internationally, and has served as the Manager Research and Programs at Marie Stopes Pakistan and subsequently, at Aahung. Since June 2019, Junaid has been operating as a Research Consultant and has most notably worked with the International Committee of the Red Cross, Pathfinder International, the Aga Khan University, and GIZ.