Board of Directors

Honorary Consul General

• Consulate of Denmark – Karachi (2015 –Present)

Chief Executive Officer

• Arwen Tech (Private) Limited

Director

• Swisstex Chemicals (Private) Limited
• Arwen Tech International Limited (FZC) – UAE
• GulAhmed Textile Mills Limited
• GTM (Europe) Limited – UK
• GulAhmed International Limited (FZC) – UAE
• GTM USA Corp. – USA
• Landhi Industrial Trading Estate Development & Management Company (LITE DMC)

Founder Director

• Ideas by GulAhmed

Chairman

• Pakistan Retail Council (2014 – 2021)

Executive Committee Member

• Prime Ministers Economic Advisory Committee overseeing 2 key areas of domestic Commerce & IT
• Federal Board of Revenue (Apex Committee)
• All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (2016 –2018)
• Pakistan Board of Investments (2013 – 2014)
• Punjab Board of Investments (2013 – Present)
• All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (2016 –2018)
• Export Processing Zone Authority (2014 – 2017)
• Sindh Police Benevolent/Welfare Fund Board (2016 – Present)
• Board of Governors, Head of Finance Committee & Head of HR Committee of Citizens Archive of Pakistan (CAP) (2016- Present)
• I Am Karachi (2013 – Present)
• President, Young Presidents’ Organization (YPO) Pakistan (2009- 2010)
• Board of Governors YPO (2004- 2012)
• Central Managing Committee, All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA), (2006 – 2012)
• National Board Member of AIESEC Pakistan (2006-2012)
• Board of Studies for the Textile Department, Indus Valley School of Art & Architecture (20162019)
• Board of Governors, Pakistan National Council of the Arts (2020 – Present)

Qualifications & Certifications

• B.Sc. Entrepreneurship – 1998 (Babson College, Boston USA)
• PICG Certification of Director Education – 2011
• National Security Workshop – 2014 (National Defense University)
• International Leaders Program – 2016 (UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office) – First Participant from Pakistan to attend
• International Workshop On Leadership & Security – 2019 (National Defense University)

Other Associations

• Landhi Association of Trade & Industry
  • 2005-2006: Sr. Vice Chairman
  • 2006-2007, 2008-2009: Chairman
  • 2013-2014: Chairman
  • 2017-Present: Patron in Chief
• Member, The International Textile Manufacturers Federation (ITMF) Spinners Committee (2003- Present)
• Member, Pakistan Japan Business Forum (2003- Present)
• Member, Pakistan Italy Business Forum (2003- Present)
• Member, Young Presidents’ Organization (YPO) Pakistan (2004 – Present)

Expertise

• Textile
• Retail
• Information Technology
• International Trade
• Public Relations

Syed Hyder Ali, Chief Executive and Managing Director, Packages Ltd., Lahore, Pakistan, graduated from University of Michigan, USA with a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering in 1979. He completed his Master of Science in June 1981, specializing in Paper Chemistry from The Institute of Paper Chemistry, Lawrence University of Wisconsin, USA. In 1997, Mr. Ali also attended the program for Management Development at the Harvard Business School, Boston, USA.

Mr. Ali has wide and varied professional working experience spanning over many years in paper production, conversion and packaging. Mr. Ali has been involved in the development and implementation of processes for the pulp and paper mill at Packages Ltd. using wheat straw as a raw material. He is the co-author of two USA patents for the recycling of milk and juice cartons.

Mr. Ali serves on the Board of a number of companies like Bulleh Shah Packaging Pvt. Ltd., IGI General Insurance Ltd., Nestle Pakistan Ltd., Packages Lanka Pvt. Ltd., Sanofi-Aventis Pakistan Ltd., Tri-Pack Films Ltd, and IGI Life Insurance Ltd.

He is a member of the Board of Governors/Directors of Babar Ali Foundation (BAF), National Management Foundation (NMF), Ali Institute of Education (AIE), Pakistan Centre for Philanthropy (PCP), and Pakistan Business Council (PBC). He is also a Member of the Executive/Advisory Committee of Syed Maratib Ali Religious and Charitable Trust Society, Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) and International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) Pakistan.

He is the Honorary Consul General of Sweden in Lahore since 1998. On May 6, 2015, he was conferred, “The Commander of the Grand Cross” by His Majesty, The King of Sweden.

Mr. Ali is married with three children.

Mr. Abdul Samad Dawood is the Vice Chair of the Board of Dawood Hercules Corporation. He has been a director of the company since 2002 and has had a rich history of involvement in it, as a Board member and in an executive capacity. Prior to his current role, he was the Vice Chair of the Board of Engro Corporation, which remains one of DH Corporation’s largest investments to date.

Mr. Dawood’s rich and diverse experience of management and governance spans 18 years, with a special interest in mergers and acquisitions. He has led more than $4 billion worth of M&A deals, including the Dawood group’s acquisition of HUBCO from National Power International Holdings B.V. in 2012 and the sale of DH Fertilizers to Fatima Fertilizer Company Ltd in 2015. He also played a leading role in the merger of Engro Foods into global dairy giant, Royal FrieslandCampina N.V., based on the convergence of their values, goals and abilities to address Pakistan’s nutritional challenges; he has since served as the Chair of the Board of FrieslandCampina Engro Pakistan. In addition to this, Mr. Dawood is an active director on the board of Pakistan Business Council, a pan-industry advocacy group that promotes easing of barriers to enable Pakistani businesses to compete in regional and global arenas. In line with his areas of interest, he is a director and trustee of Boards across varied industries including financial investments, energy, and education, some of which are the Dawood Foundation, KSBL, Dawood Lawrencepur Ltd, and Reon (Pvt) Ltd. In addition to governance, Mr. Dawood has served as Chief Executive Officer for Dawood Hercules Corporation Ltd and Cyan Ltd, and is an active member of the Young Presidents Organization.

Mr. Dawood is a graduate in Economics from University College London, UK and a certified director of corporate governance from the Pakistan Institute of Corporate Governance.

Mr. Azam Faruque is the Chief Executive of Cherat Cement Co. Ltd. He is an Electrical Engineering and Computer Science graduate from Princeton University, USA. He completed his MBA with high honors from the University of Chicago, Booth School of Business. Apart from the time he has spent in the cement industry, he has also served as a member on the Boards of State Bank of Pakistan, National Bank of Pakistan, and Oil and Gas Development Corporation Ltd. He was a Member of the Board of Governors of GIK Institute, Member of the National Commission of Science & Technology and also a Member of the National Committee of the Aga Khan Foundation.

Mr. Azam Faruque has served on the Board of the Privatization Commission of the Government of Pakistan, Atlas Asset Management Ltd., International Industries Ltd., Atlas Battery Ltd., Indus Motor Company Ltd. and was the Chairman KPK Oil & Gas Development Company Ltd. He was elected as a director on the board of the Pakistan Business Council on February 7, 2025.

At present, he is a member of the Board of Directors of Faruque (Pvt.) Ltd., Greaves Pakistan (Pvt.) Ltd., Unicoi Ltd., Habib University Foundation, Atlas Honda Ltd. and The Pakistan Business Council. He is a ‘Certified Director’ from the Pakistan Institute of Corporate Governance.

Danish A. Lakhani is the CEO and co-founder of Cyber Internet Services Pvt. Ltd. (Cybernet), a leading internet service provider in Pakistan, and Rapid, the country’s first public cloud service provider. Over the past 15 years, Mr. Lakhani has driven Cybernet’s strategic focus on building a full fiber network to bring high speed broadband to over 25 cities in Pakistan under the brand StormFiber. He has also been instrumental in fostering partnerships to enhance Pakistan’s connectivity through submarine networks, and establishing a new state-of-the-art, ultra-low latency long haul optical network over national railways and motorways. He has also played a significant role in the broader digital ecosystem, having previously chaired the APNIC Foundation, where he supported internet governance initiatives and infrastructure projects across the Asia Pacific region.

Mr. Lakhani is also the founder of NayaPay, an emerging electronic money institution designed to serve Pakistan’s under-banked youth and cash-reliant small and medium enterprises with digital wallet accounts and payment solutions.  He has led significant partnerships with Visa and Ant Group to enable Pakistani citizens to transact globally.

He holds a Master of Business Administration from Harvard Business School and a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering from Stanford University, specializing in Networked Systems. He completed his undergraduate studies in Applied Mathematics – Computer Science, and Business Economics at Brown University, where he was inducted into Sigma XI, the Scientific Research Honors Society.

Mr. Lakhani also serves as Board Member of the Aga Khan Foundation where he engages in various development programs.

Mohamedali R. Habib is the Chairman of Indus Motor Company Limited, and a Founding Director of the Company. He has been a Director of Habib Metropolitan Bank Limited since 2004, and currently serves as the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Bank. In addition, he serves as a Member on the Board of Thal Limited, and also serves as a Director of Habib University Foundation. He was appointed Group CEO ofHBZ Group in 2016.

Mohamedali R. Habib graduated in Business Management – Finance from Clark University, Massachusetts USA in 1987, and also holds a Post Graduate Diploma in General Management from Stanford-National University of Singapore.

Mr. Muhammad Ali Tabba is the Chief Executive of Lucky Cement Limited, succeeding his late father in 2005. He also serves as the Chief Executive Officer of Yunus Textile Mills Ltd (YTM), a state-of-the-art home textile mill with subsidiaries in North America and Europe. Simultaneously spearheading both these organizations, he also plays a pivotal role in providing strategic vision to ICI Pakistan Limited as its Vice Chairman.

He started his career with Yunus Brothers Group (YBG) – a family conglomerate in 1991. YBG is one of the premier business houses in Pakistan with diversified interests in Building Materials, Chemicals, Pharmaceuticals, Energy, Textiles, Automotive and Real Estate Development. Muhammad Ali Tabba was the past Chairman of Pakistan Business Council (PBC), a business advocacy forum comprising of leading private sector businesses. He is the Chairman of Lucky Motors Corporation Limited (formerly KIA Lucky Motors) and Lucky Electric Power Company Limited.

He is the Chairman of All Pakistan Cement Manufacturing Association (APCMA), a regulatory body of cement manufacturers in Pakistan and also the Chairman of Pakistan Textile Council (PTC) in Pakistan, a think tank, advocacy and research based body.

In recognition of his outstanding services and contributions in the social development sector of Pakistan, World Economic Forum (WEF) in 2010 bestowed the title of “Young Global Leader (YGL)” to Muhammad Ali Tabba. He is also the recipient of Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry “Businessman of the Year” Gold Medal Award for 2012- 2013.

With extensive engagements in many Community Welfare Projects, Muhammad Ali Tabba also serves on the Board of Governors at numerous renowned Universities, Institutions and Foundations. He is the Vice Chairman of a not-for-Profit organization, Aziz Tabba Foundation. The Foundation is working extensively in the field of Social Welfare, Education, Health and Housing. The Foundation runs two state-of-the-art Hospitals in Karachi; 170 bed Tabba Heart Institute (THI) which is a dedicated Cardiac Care Hospital and 100 bed Tabba Kidney Institute (TKI), a specialized institution providing comprehensive treatment for Nephro-Urological disorder.

In recognition of his outstanding services and contribution to the business as well as the social development sector of Pakistan, Government of Pakistan has awarded him with Sitara-E-Imtiaz in 2018.

Mr. Arif Habib is the Chief Executive of Arif Habib Corporation Limited, the holding company of Arif Habib Group. He is also the Chairman of Fatima Fertilizer Company Limited, Pakarab Fertilizers Limited, Aisha Steel Mills Limited, Javedan Corporation Limited (the owner of Naya Nazimabad) and Sachal Wind Power. Mr. Arif Habib remained the elected President/Chairman of Karachi Stock Exchange for six times in the past and was a Founding Member and Chairman of the Central Depository Company of Pakistan Limited. He has served as a Member of the Privatisation Commission, Board of Investment, Tariff Reforms Commission and Securities & Exchange Ordinance Review Committee. He is currently a member of the Prime Minister’s Economic Advisory Council (EAC) and the Think-Tank constituted by the Prime Minister on COVID-19 related economic issues. Mr. Habib participates significantly in welfare activities. He remains one of the directors of Pakistan Centre for Philanthropy (PCP), Karachi Education Initiative (KSBL) and Karachi Sports Foundation as well as trustee of Memon Health & Education Foundation (MMI) and Fatimid Foundation.

Corporate Responsibilities

As Chairman

• Aisha Steel Mills Limited
• Arif Habib Consultancy (Private) Limited
• Arif Habib Foundation
• Black Gold Power Limited
• Fatima Fertilizer Company Limited
• Javedan Corporation Limited
• Karachi Sports Foundation
• National Resources (Private) Limited
• Pakarab Fertilizers Limited
• Sachal Energy Development (Private) Limited

As Director

• Arif Habib Equity (Private) Limited
• Arif Habib Real Estate Services (Private) Limited
• Fatima Cement Limited
• International Builders and Developers (Private) Limited
• NCEL Building Management Limited
• Pakarab Energy Limited
• Pakistan Business Council
• Pakistan Engineering Company Limited
• Pakistan Opportunities Limited

As Honorary Trustee/Director

• Fatimid Foundation
• Habib University Foundation
• Karachi Education Initiative
• Pakistan Centre for Philanthropy

Mr. Rizwan Diwan is a family member of the G&T Group, a 75 years old business group, involved in polyester textile, packaging, cotton textile, retail, and energy with operations also in the Middle East and North America.

He is the Chief Executive Officer of Novatex Ltd, which is in the business of PET Resin, Preforms, Bottles and BOPET film and the largest non-textile exporter of Pakistan. Over the last 26 years he has led many innovations in the field of rigid & flexible packaging in Pakistan as well as in the region.

Mr. Diwan is on the Board of Directors of Engro Corporation since 2018 and serves on their investment as well as Audit Committees. He has also joined the TCF (The Citizens Foundation) board in 2022 and serves on their Audit and HR Committees.

Mr. Diwan has taught entrepreneurship at the Institute of Business Administration (IBA), Karachi which is his alma mater from where he holds a Master degree in Business Administration.

Saira Awan Malik is the President of the TCS Group. After training as a corporate lawyer, Saira worked for six years at the London office of international law firm Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP, focusing on corporate and financial transactions, including cross-border mergers & acquisitions, restructurings and capital market issuances.

Saira received an undergraduate degree in History from Yale University in May 1999. She read Law at the University of Cambridge (2001-3) and subsequently completed the Bar Vocational Course at the Inns of Court School of Law in London. She was called to the Bar of England and Wales in October 2007. In 2023, Saira completed, with distinction, the Global Executive MBA at Columbia Business School and London Business School.

Saira served on the board of the British Pakistan Foundation (BPF) from 2012-23, where she spearheaded the launch of the BPF Women’s Network, and more recently on the board of the Pakistan Society for Training and Development. She is a founder member of the British Pakistani Lawyers’ Association and the Pakistan International Film Association. Saira is a member of the Young Presidents’ Organization Pakistan Chapter and the first woman partner in the Champions of Change Coalition Pakistan.

Mr. Samir M. Chinoy is the Chief Executive Officer of International Steels Limited  .He has served in various positions in International Steels Limited, as Chief Operating Officer and Director on the Board of International Steels Limited. Prior to International Steels Limited,

Mr. Chinoy worked at Pakistan Cables, Deloitte and Touché, New York and Foothill Capital (A Wells Fargo Company), Boston.

He is a graduate of Babson College, USA with a Bachelor of Science in Finance and Entrepreneurship and a minor in Human Communication. He also is a certified Director from Pakistan Institute of Corporate Governance.

Currently, Mr. Chinoy is the Chairman, of the Amir Sultan Chinoy Foundation and Beaumont Plaza Owners/Occupants Welfare Association,  and is a Director of Pakgen Power Ltd., Intermark (Pvt) Ltd., Haball (Pvt) Ltd. and IIL Australia Pty Ltd.

Engineer by profession in Industrial Engineering from Purdue University USA. Master of Business Administration from Columbia Business School USA in 1999. Joined Graham Investment Advisors in 1998 and worked as Equity Analyst and later joined UBS Warburg as Equity Research Analyst.

Served as Chief Executive Officer in Descon Chemical Limited. Managing Director Gray Mackenzie Engineering Services BV, the Netherlands. Director Descon Engineering Limited and TiE (The Indus Entrepreneurs) an NGO which fosters entrepreneurship in the country.

Currently serving as Chairman of Descon; which includes Descon Engineering Ltd, Descon Oxychem Limited and other Descon entities for Engineering, Chemicals and Power Sectors.

Yousaf Hussain, President and CEO of Faysal Bank, has over 25 years of professional experience, having held senior leadership roles in organizations such as ABN AMRO, Samba Bank, Mashreq Bank-UAE, and Mobilink, previously 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 Hussain 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 Mr. Hussain’s crucial role in reshaping the banking landscape.

In addition to his role at Faysal Bank, Mr. Hussain serves as the President of the Overseas Investors Chamber of Commerce & Industry (OICCI). He is committed to promoting diversity, inclusion, and corporate social responsibility (CSR), with a focus on education, health, and environmental sustainability (ESG).

Mr. Hussain 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 (PBA) and a Council Member at the National Institute of Banking & Finance (NIBAF). He is also a member of the Management Committee at IBA’s Centre for Excellence in Islamic Finance.

He holds a BS in electrical engineering with a specialization in telecommunications and an MBA from the Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS).

Dr. Zeelaf Munir has been the Managing Director and CEO of English Biscuit Manufacturers (EBM) since 2015. She is a respected leader in Pakistan’s business community, contributing to national strategic planning and economic development as a member of the Ministry of Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives, Government of Pakistan. She serves as Chairperson of the Pakistan Business Council (PBC) and holds positions on the boards of the National Management Foundation, LUMS, iCare Foundation, and Habib University Foundation. She is also an Emeritus Council Member of Pakistan Advertising Society (PAS).  Internationally, she has served as President of the Association of Pakistani Physicians in North America (APPNA).

Under her leadership, EBM has become Pakistan’s largest FMCG and leading biscuit and cake manufacturer. Her vision has driven EBM to achieve exponential growth and earn numerous local and global accolades, including the “Best Place to Work” awards and the historic Cannes Lions Glass Gold trophy in 2023 for equitable education and gender equality.

Dr. Zeelaf has over 25 years of experience in healthcare and business, from practicing Psychiatry and managing healthcare organizations in the U.S. to leading corporate entities and serving on prestigious boards. As a practicing Psychiatrist, she was Medical Director at Fellowship Health Resources, Delaware, USA.

Dr. Zeelaf is a sought-after speaker and has appeared on various media platforms in Pakistan and globally. Her insights into transformational leadership, career management, and solution mindset highlight her commitment to technology-driven insights, innovation and ethical business practices in an ever-changing world.

Dr. Zeelaf graduated from Dow Medical University, specialized in Psychiatry at Washington University School of Medicine, and earned a Master’s degree in Health Finance and Management from Johns Hopkins University. She also completed the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School. She is married to Khawaja Munir Mashooqullah and is the mother of three sons.