core team
Muhammad Saghir
Muhammad Saghir, Project Director
Mr. Muhammad Saghir Ahmed, as the Project Director of the Southern Punjab Poverty Alleviation Project (SPPAP), provides strategic leadership and overall direction for the project’s planning, implementation, and performance. With extensive experience in development management and public sector programs, he oversees policy alignment, resource utilization, and institutional coordination to ensure the project achieves its intended outcomes.
In his role, Mr. Muhammad Saghir Ahmed is responsible for guiding project strategy, strengthening partnerships with government departments, development partners, and implementing agencies, and ensuring transparency, accountability, and impact across all project components. His leadership and vision play a critical role in advancing SPPAP’s mission of sustainable poverty reduction and inclusive socio-economic development in Southern Punjab.
zahoor ul din
zahoor ul din, regional coordinator
Mr. Zahoor Ul Din as the Regional Coordinator for the SPPAP Project brings strong experience in project coordination, stakeholder engagement, and field-level implementation.
In his role, Mr. Zahoor Ul Din will be responsible for coordinating regional activities, ensuring effective implementation of project objectives, and strengthening collaboration with partners and community stakeholders. His commitment and leadership are expected to contribute significantly to the successful execution and impact of the SPPAP Project.
Imran Nazir
Imran Nazir, gender & poverty specialist
Mr. Imran Nazir is a Results and performance-driven, professional with 24 years of continuous advancement and expertise in programme planning, development, implementation, monitoring & evaluation. His expertise spans community development, poverty alleviation, gender equality, women/girl/youth empowerment, social inclusion, and local governance showcasing a remarkable track record of driving impactful initiatives. He has served with different renowned provincial, national and international level organizations such as the Punjab Rural Support Program (PRSP), United Nations Development Program, Devolution Trust for Community Empowerment (DTCE) and the Planning and Development Board, Government of the Punjab. He possesses profound expertise in crafting strategic action plans, monitoring frameworks, stakeholder engagement strategies, implementation roadmaps, and PC-I formulations, complemented by his adeptness in navigating Project Implementation Manuals. As an integral member of the SPPAP PMU team since 2014, Mr. Imran spearheads the Gender & Poverty Section showcasing his exceptional leadership acumen. His brainchild the Gender Action Planning of SPPAP garnered accolades from the esteemed donor agency IFAD, culminating in SPPAP’s triumphant receipt of the prestigious IFAD Gender Award in the Asia & Pacific Region in 2019. He holds the Master’s degree in Economics and Post Graduate Diploma in Project Management.
Khalid Umer
Khalid Umer, Infrastructure Specialist
Mr. Khalid Umer is a seasoned Infrastructure Specialist and Civil Engineer with over 22 years of progressive experience in infrastructure development, construction management, and project supervision. He currently serves with the Southern Punjab Poverty Alleviation Project (SPPAP), Planning & Development Board, Government of the Punjab, where he drives planning, execution, and quality assurance of community-centric infrastructure initiatives.
His expertise spans low-cost housing, water supply and sanitation systems, rural access roads, irrigation schemes, renewable energy solutions, and community facilities – all implemented in compliance with PPRA rules, IFAD guidelines, and Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund (PPAF) standards. A strong advocate for environmental sustainability and gender sensitivity, Khalid ensures projects not only meet technical benchmarks but also promote social inclusion and minimize ecological impact.
Through meticulous technical appraisal, procurement oversight, and performance monitoring, he delivers resilient, cost-effective infrastructure solutions that empower marginalized communities in Southern Punjab. His work embodies a commitment to poverty reduction, community participation, and sustainable development.
Mian ahsan raza
Mian ahsan raza, KM & MES
Mian Ahsan Raza holds a Master’s degree in Sociology and brings over 24 years of extensive professional experience in Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E), project management and community development. He has served in senior roles, including Team Lead and M&E Specialist, with several well-reputed public sector institutions and national and international organizations i.e. Planning & Development, Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC), United Nation Development Programme (UNDP), Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE), DFID, WHO and IFAD.
Throughout his career, he has designed and implemented robust monitoring, evaluation, and data management systems to systematically track project progress against targets, outcomes, and impact indicators. His expertise also extends to Knowledge Management, where he has contributed to strengthening evidence-based decision-making.
He has led the development of key institutional frameworks and instruments, including M&E Manuals, Knowledge Management Strategies, M&E Systems, Results Frameworks, and Annual Work Plans and Budgets (AWPBs). In addition, he has delivered capacity-building trainings to M&E professionals, particularly on MIS protocols and reporting standards, enhancing organizational performance and accountability.
Muhammad Fiaz Jamal
fiaz jamal, training Specialist
Mr. Muhammad Fiaz Jamal is currently serving as Training & Enterprise Specialist in the Project Management Unit (PMU), IFAD-Assisted Southern Punjab Poverty Alleviation Project (SPPAP) under the Planning & Development Board, Government of the Punjab. He has been associated with the organization for over 11 years, contributing extensively to training, enterprise development, and capacity-building initiatives.
He holds an M.Phil in Business Administration and an MBA from the University of the Punjab. Prior to his current role, he worked for seven years as a Training Coordinator at the Ministry of Industries, where he gained valuable experience in designing and managing training programs
He possesses strong expertise in Training and Development, capacity building of staff and employees, and institutional strengthening. He is known for his dedication, professionalism, and strong work ethic, with a consistent focus on improving organizational performance through effective human resource development.
muhammad mazhar
muhammad mazhar, finance manager
Muhammad Mazhar is an accomplished Finance and Accounts Manager with over 22 years of progressive experience in Finance and Accounts Department, and project supervision across public and community-driven programs. He is currently serving with the Southern Punjab Poverty Alleviation Project (SPPAP) under the Planning & Development Board, Government of the Punjab, where he plays a pivotal role in planning, execution, and quality assurance of community physical infrastructure interventions.
His professional expertise spans Finance & Accounts , and community facilities, implemented in compliance with PPRA rules, IFAD guidelines, and Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund (PPAF) standards.
Farooq Anjam
Farooq Anjam, Agriculture Specialist
Mr. Farooq Anjam is serving as Deputy Director/Agriculture Specialist in the SPPAP Project under the P&D Department, Government of Punjab with the assistance of International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), with an additional responsibility as Livestock Specialist in the Project Management Unit from Feb. 2016. Having 25 years’ experience with national and international development organizations like United Nations Development Program (UNDP), WAPDA, Sheladia Associates Inc (USA), Pakistan Agriculture Research Council (PARC), Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC), Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund (PPAF), USAID, PEOPEINNEED (Czech Republican).
He is a seasoned Agriculture Specialist with progressive experience of social mobilization, community development, agriculture research and development, land rehabilitation, fertigation, livelihood enhancement and protection through agriculture, Natural Resources conservation and Management, farm machinery expert, food value-chain expert, participatory and rapid appraisals, Establishment and supervision of Farmers Field Schools, Revolving fund management, Food Bank establishment and management, Inhouse Kitchen gardening, flood emergencies and rehabilitations and project supervision with community participation and sustainable development.