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Maheen Rashid joined the UNDP Punjab SDGs Support Unit as an Economic Policy Analyst in November 2020. Prior to holding this position, she worked as a Policy and Research Associate for the Centre for Economic Research in Pakistan (CERP) Advisory, where she helped set up the Policy Advisory Vertical and managed a diverse portfolio of projects in public health, ICT, gender equity, and social security with public and private sector clients. Maheen also worked with Group i&i Consultancy in the US as a Research and Evaluation Associate providing research, evaluation, grant funding, and strategic visioning support to clients. Maheen also worked as a Policy Analyst at the Chief Minister Punjab's Special Monitoring Unit and worked on security, excise and taxation, education, and women empowerment reforms such as the passage of the Punjab Protection of Women against Violence Act 2016, formation of Violence Against Women Centers, and launching her initiative of Women-on-Wheels (WOW). In a more global context, she has also worked with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Evaluation Office in New York on ending Child Marriage and abandoning Female Genital Mutilation. Maheen holds a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting and Finance from the Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) and a Master's of Public Policy, with a concentration in International Development and Gender from Rutgers University. Maheen is passionate about forming sustainable, inclusive and data-driven policies, gender equity, social security, social justice, and human development. |
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Javeria Khalid is a development professional with over seven years of experience in research, teaching, and monitoring and evaluation. She has working experience in both the public and the private sector with a focus on women empowerment, ending violence against women (EVAW), and social protection. Javeria holds an MBA, Masters in Economics (MSC Economics), and B.Sc. (Hons.) in Economics from the Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS). |
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Saheem Khizar is working as a Social Policy Analyst at the UNDP Punjab SDGs Support Unit. In this role, he works closely with the Planning and Development Board, Government of the Punjab, to mainstreaming and localizing UN 2030 Agenda within the provincial government policies and financial frameworks, including support in designing the Annual Development Programmes. In his decade-long experience, Saheem has worked across social sectors, including education, healthcare, agriculture value-chain development, housing finance, rural development, livelihood development, and disaster relief. He has worked with multilateral and national organizations, including the World Bank Group, MicroInsurance Network, Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund (PPAF), Pakistan Coalition for Education, Punjab Education Support Programme, University of Oxford, LUMS, and Idara-e-Taleem-o-Aagahi. Saheem has managed countrywide randomized control trials (RCTs) in partnership with national and international stakeholders. He has been part of the research team to compile the 'Annual Status of Education Report,' analyzing children learning levels across Pakistan, and coauthored the research study, 'Do Schools Get Money,' to track annual school council grants across Pakistan. Alongside his research experience, Saheem is skilled in stakeholders’ relationship management and has presented to senior parliamentarians, bureaucrats, and donor representatives. Saheem holds a Master’s degree in Public Policy from the Central European University and a Bachelor’s in Economics and Politics from LUMS. |
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Shumaila Jamil is a seasoned communication, outreach, and media specialist having over 12-years of experience in the development sector. She holds a Master's degree in English Literature from the University of the Punjab, Pakistan, and a fellowship in Using Media for Development from the Netherlands. She joined the UNDP Punjab SDGs Support Unit as Communications Lead in July 2021. During her professional voyage, she worked at different leading positions with diverse donors and implementing partners like USAID, UNDP, SDC, Nestle, and Louis Berger, Stakeholders, including Punjab Government, industry, TVET sector, food and beverage, academia, civil society, media, and production houses, focusing on economic growth, increased stability, gender mainstreaming, and positive attitudes and responsible citizenship among youth in the focus areas of Pakistan. Shumaila has extensive experience in strategic communications, advocacy and community outreach, behaviour change communications, marketing and advertising, branding and marking, media management, public relations, campaigns development, event and web content management. She prides herself extensively working for youth, women, rural farming communities, and other underprivileged segments of society, remaining instrumental to their social and financial inclusion and improved livelihoods. |
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Maryam Raza has recently joined the UNDP Punjab SDGs Support Unit as Research Officer. She is a social and economic development researcher with 5-year experience in strategy development, management, research, international trade diplomacy, and sustainable development. Prior to holding this position, Maryam worked with the Pakistan Textile Council (PTC), the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Commerce, the International European Commission, the European Parliament, and other diplomatic missions. She also worked as a Consultant at the Ministry of Health, Punjab, Pakistan, leading the Internal Delivery Unit (IDU), and as a Product Manager at GlaxoSmithKline (GSK). Maryam holds a postgraduate degree in International Development (with Distinction) from The University of Manchester, UK, and Economics & Political Science from LUMS.
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Maheen Rashid
Javeria Khalid
Saheem Khizar
Shumaila Jamil
Maryam Raza