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Join Panel Discussions Now. Fill the Participation Proforma for DataFest 2025
Relive panel Discussion of DataFest 2024 Event.
A forward-looking dialogue on Pakistan’s data-driven future. This preliminary session will set the stage for DataFest 2025 by exploring pathways for innovation, youth engagement, and the transformative role of data in national development.
| Proposed Panelist | Sector | Proposed Keynote Speaker | Moderator |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dr. Qasim Manzoor, JCE | Chairman P&D Board, Punjab | Prof Ahsan Iqbal, Minister Planning, Development and Special Initiatives (PD&SI) |
Dr. Naeem Uz Zafar, Chief Statistician, Pakistan Bureau of Statistics or Dr. Nadeem Javaid, Member (Research / VC, PIDE) |
| Chief Secretary, Sindh | Provincial Govt Sindh | ||
| Mr. Fazal Khaliq | Special Secretary P&D Department KPK | ||
| Mr. Arif Hussain Shah | JCE, P&D Dept, Baluchistan | ||
| Mr. Yasir Bashir | Chief Foreign Aid AJK | ||
| Mr. Sajjad Gilani | Assistant Chief AJK | ||
| Mr. Khawar Najeeb | Planning Officer AJK | ||
| Mr. Javed Iqbal | Chief Economist, GB Govt. | ||
| Dr Imtiaz Ahmad | Member (Economic Policy / Planning/ Chief Economist) | ||
| Mr. Waqas Anwar | Member (Infra & Regional Connectivity) | ||
| Dr. Adnan Rafiq | Member Governance | ||
| Dr. Najeebullah Marwat | Member (S&T, ICT) |
Strengthening Disaster Risk Preparedness, Adaptation, and Insurance Mechanisms in Pakistan
| Proposed Panelist | Sector | Proposed Keynote Speaker | Moderator |
|---|---|---|---|
| Director Preparedness & Response | NDMA |
Abid Qayyum Sulehri (Executive Director, Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI)
Nadia Rehman (Member of Food Security and Climate Change Planning Commission) |
Dr.Aneel Salman (OGDCL-IPRI Chair, Economic Security) |
| Dr. Bilal Anwar | CEO NDRMF | ||
| Mr Ayhan Bhutto | Executive Director Climate Change and Carbon Finance | ||
| Ather Imran | Sybrid, Agri/Fin/Technology | ||
| Dr. Sardar Sarfaraz | Director General, Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) | ||
| Dr Saima Shafique | Climate Energy and environment Specialist UNICEF |
Driving inclusive economic growth through data—boosting productivity, enabling value addition, promoting IT and gig economy solutions, reducing carbon footprints, and guiding trade, competitiveness, and sustainable investments.
| Proposed Panelist | Sector | Proposed Keynote Speaker | Moderator |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mr. Abdul Wajid Rana | Former Policy Maker |
Mr. Amir Mohy ud Din (Secretary MNFSR)
OR Dr. Mubarak Ali (Consultant Agriculture, Planning Commission of Pakistan) |
Mr. James Robert OKOTH, FAO Officer in-charge |
| Dr. Muhammad Afzal | Livestock Expert (T.I.) | ||
| Mr. Shahid Tawawalla | CEO Meskay & Femtee Trading Company | ||
| Mr. Adnan Pasha | Ministry of Finance & Mr. Yahya, Head Agri Bank Alfalah | ||
| Mr. Aamer Hayat Bhandara | CEO Digital Dera | ||
| Dr. Shakir Mehmood | Chairman, City and Regional Planning Department, UET Lahore |
| Proposed Panelist | Sector | Proposed Keynote Speaker | Moderator |
|---|---|---|---|
|
1.Rep. World Bank
2. Rep. IFC |
Development Partners | Mr. Bilal Malaeb, Senior Economist at World Bank Poverty and Equity Global Practice | Naimat Khudad, Azerbaijan |
| Dr. Aliya Hashmi Khan | Former Dean of Social Sciences, QAU | ||
| Dr. Sohaib Hassan | Member Private Sector Development and Competitiveness, MoPD&SI | ||
| Ms. Nadia Jahangir Sethi | GM, SMEDA | ||
| Mr. Shahbaz Rana | Economic Journalist Express Tribune |
Promoting equity and inclusivity in health, education, law, and social protection—focusing on poverty reduction, fair resource distribution, fiscal equity, and technology-driven balanced development across regions.
| Proposed Panelist | Sector | Proposed Keynote Speaker | Moderator |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dr. Luay Shabaneh (rep. UNFPA) | International Partners | Dr. Ishrat Hussain, Former Governor State Bank of Pakistan | Muqaddar Ali Shah, UNFPA |
| Rep. Govt | Member National Finance Commission | ||
| Khurram Hussain | Dawn | ||
| Dr. Nasir Iqbal | PIDE | ||
| Mr. Saqib Sheerani | Macro-Economic Specialist | ||
| Dr. Ashfaq Hassan Khan | Fiscal policy experts and Author of the proposed new NFC formula |
| Proposed Panelist | Sector | Proposed Keynote Speaker | Moderator |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mr. Nadeem Mahbub | Secretary, Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training- federal perspective/National Education Emergency Taskforce |
1. Pernille Ironside (rep. UNICEF) OR 2. Dr. Maleeha Lodhi, Education Advocate OR 3. Dr. Shahnaz Wazir Ali, Education Advocate, former SAPM on Education |
Dr. Farah (LUMS) |
| Prof. Dr. Iqrar Ahmed Khan | Chairman PHEC | ||
| Dr. Shahid Soroya | Director General, Pakistan Institute of Education-National Achievement Test and National Open Data Portal | ||
| Mr. Zahid Ali Abbasi | Secretary, School Education and Literacy Department, Government of Sindh | ||
| Dr. Baela raza Jamil | CEO, Idara-e-Taleem-o-Aagahi -ASER Pakista | ||
| Mr. Abbas Rashid | Executive Director, Society for the Advancement of education (SAHE) | ||
| Mr. Haroon Yasin | Founder & CEO Taleemabad | ||
| Ms. Maliha Hyder | Education Specialist, World Bank |
Data to Decisions by Integrating AI & Big Data for Pakistan's Statistical Future
| Proposed Panelist | Sector | Proposed Keynote Speaker | Moderator |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dr. Najeebullah | Member (S&T and ICT) M/o PD&SI |
Mr.Asif Peer (CEO and Managing Director)
OR Mr.Salim Ghauri (Founder & CEO NETSOL Technologies Ltd) |
- |
| Ms. Fatima Akhtar | Head of Communications & Sustainability JAZZ | ||
| Mr. Sajid Latif | DG e-Governance PITB | ||
| Mr.Ather Imran | Board Member Sybrid Private Limited | ||
| Dr.Hammad Majeed | Professor & Head of Department, FAST National University | ||
| Dr. Akif Khan | Managing Director, KP IT Board | ||
| Ashraf M. Marabet | UNICEF | ||
| Dr. Attila Lazar | World Pop |
