Governance

Saad Bin Ahmed has joined Arif Habib Limited as Head of Sales, responsible for overseeing and further enhancing our Equities brokerage operations.

Saad brings with him over 17 years of international diversified experience with heavy focus on investment banking and financial services. During his career, Saad has garnered experience in Investment Management (International Private Equity), Equities Research and Investment Advisory. Saad was at the helm of setting up two investment advisory boutiques, Alternate Research and Aryan Capital in Pakistan and the UK which focused on providing advisory services to leading clients based across the G.C.C. In addition to having spent time with a leading Private Equity firm in Saudi Arabia, Saad has also been associated with both buy-side and sell-side institutions in Pakistan.

Saad has a chartered accountancy background and also holds a Masters degree in Economics from the University of Karachi.

Bilal heads the international equity sales and trading desk for Arif Habib Ltd and has over 15-yrs of buy-side and sell-side experience.

He has pioneered systematic trading in Pakistan and developed the country’s first systematic equity strategy “CYBORG”.

Bilal was nominated for the “Best Hedge Fund Manager Award 2008” at the annual Hedge Funds Conference in Dubai, UAE and ranked 2nd in the Asian Money Poll for “Best Country Sales Trader 2018”.

Mr. Usman Taufiq Ahmed has served Stocks Brokerage Industry for over a decade. He has over 15 years of experience in Equity sales, trading and investment advisory. Prior to joining Arif Habib Limited, he was associated with Taurus Securities Limited & Motiwala Securities Private Limited.

Usman has joined Arif Habib Limited in 2014 as Senior Trader and got promoted to Head of HNWI/ Corporates desk. He is managing a team of over 10 traders.

He is a Certified Professional from Institute of Financial Markets of Pakistan and MBA Finance.

Mr. Furqan Aslam is working as Deputy Head/ Vice President Capital Market with Arif Habib Group. He is associated with this group since 2000. He has over 24 years’ experience in Pakistan Capital Markets and plays a vital role to monitor trade executions and clients’ exposure, developing relationships with financial institutions, high net worth clients, and investors.

He has been instrumental in initiating new trading relationships to expand the firm’s client base and market share. He has a deep understanding of market dynamics and fundamentals and has strong relationships with domestic institutional investors, which also enables him to generate large block trades.

Furqan holds Bachelor’s degree in Commerce.

Munazza brings more than seven years of diverse experience in Designing, Content writing, Strategy, Digital Marketing & Research. She conducts thorough market research, develops comprehensive brand enhancement plans, and creates engaging content across various platforms. She excels in analyzin campaign performance and customer behavior, leveraging both digital tools and traditional channels to drive engagements.

Previously, as AHL's Social Media Officer, she successfully developed and managed the company's social media strategy, focusing on increasing brand awareness, website trafficking, and lead generation. Prior to AHL, she managed client accounts at RG Blue Communications, ensuring the successful delivery of campaigns while maintaining strong client relationships. Munazza holds a Bachelor’s degree in Media Science from Iqra University and is certified in Multimedia from Arena Multimedia.

Anus Wadood brings seven years of dynamic experience in Equity Sales and Client Onboarding. He excels in developing relationships with Retail Clients, Financial Institutions and High Net Worth individuals. Beginning his journey at Arif Habib Limited as an Assistant Officer in Sales & Marketing, he swiftly climbed the ranks to Manager and eventually Head of Client Onboarding. His tenure at Intermarket Securities Limited further enriched his expertise in the field. His proactive approach is instrumental in initiating new trading relationships to expand the company's client base and market share. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Commerce.

Farhan Rizvi is a seasoned finance professional with around 20 years of experience across Equity Research, Investment Advisory and Audit & Assurance services both in Pakistan and Singapore. He started his career as an Auditor with Deloitte and Touché Singapore in 2004 before relocating to Pakistan in 2007 to work with JS Global Capital as a Senior Research Analyst. Farhan moved back to Singapore in 2010 to Head Pakistan Equities Research for Credit Suisse before expanding into the Asia Frontier Markets in 2013. He was Head of Asia Frontier Market Research at Credit Suisse from 2017 to 2022 before moving back to Pakistan to set up the new Startup Advisory Desk at Arif Habib Limited in 2022 and subsequently expanding his coverage as Director Investment Banking in 2023.

Farhan has a solid track record of covering diverse sectors across Frontier market equities and has participated in more than USD 6bn worth of Investment Banking Transactions including IPOs, M&A, Convertible Debt & SPOs across Asia Frontier Markets. Some of the landmark transactions he has worked on include USD 1.3bn equity raise by Vinhomes Vietnam (the largest IPO in Frontier Markets), USD 1bn divestment of equity stake in HBL by Govt. of Pakistan and USD 700 mn IPO of Vincom Retail. He was regularly ranked as a top analyst by Asia Money and Institutional Investor (II) surveys.

Farhan is a CFA Charterholder, Singapore Chartered Accountant (SCA) and a Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (FCCA).

With decades of experience in financial markets, Zafar Alam brings a unique blend of global leadership, innovative vision and in-depth financial knowledge. As a business leader in investment banking encompassing Origination, Trading, Sales and Asset Management he has lead teams of over 400 people and delivered revenues of over a billion dollars. He has been a key member of the Top Executive Group - TEG at ABN AMRO and RBS Bank.

Holding a master’s degree in Nuclear Physics, Zafar joined ABN AMRO as Investment Manager in Dubai. In 1988 he moved to Hong Kong as Head of ABN AMRO Securities & Finance Co., focusing on fixed income trading and sales. In 1990 he started the brokerage and origination business for Asian equities. In 1995, he was asked by the bank’s senior leadership to move to Singapore, to lead and build the local markets business, as Head of Local Markets and Credit Trading.

As a passionate innovator, Zafar Alam had the vision to enter into Fixed Income and Derivatives markets. The bank was only active in FX sphere however his input gave the direction to add Fixed Income and Derivatives as the market was set to take off in the aftermath of the Asian crisis. The activities included origination, trading and sales in thirteen Asian countries.

In 2002, he was appointed Managing Director and moved to London as Global Head of Emerging Markets responsible for origination, trading and sales, before taking on his new role in Equities.

As Global Head of Equity Derivatives Sales in the enlarged RBS Global Banking & Markets Group. In this role Zafar was responsible for combining the successful Private Investor Products (PIP) and Institutional/Corporate business of ABN AMRO and RBS. He was responsible for developing, manufacturing and distributing structured products consisting of multi-assets. In one year, he turned a USD 150 million business into a USD 1 billion business.

In 2010, he become Head of Equities and Structured Retail Sales for Middle East and Africa, based in Dubai focused on building an Equities platform. He also managed the Structured Equities Solution team which provided equity financing with an overlay of derivative solutions.

Zafar Alam has always had a strong belief in technology and been a visionary for a digital future. Zafar Alam is a chairman and founder of ELIGIBLE.ai, an award winning Fin-Tech company in the UK loan servicing market. Eligible is a digital servicing solution using behavioral segmentation to personalize every consumer’s journey. Allowing financial institutions to instantly educate, empower and retain their customer base. The Fin-Tech services over GBP 15 billion in mortgages making it the 5th largest consumer database in the UK.

With the combination of his extensive experience across sectors and markets, Zafar Alam has also been entrusted as a Partner at Silver Tree HK LTD., an asset management fund based in Hong Kong with over USD 250 million assets under management (AUM).

Shahid has a proven track record of establishing successful business organizations and turning around ventures into vibrant units. He has over 24 years of experience in the fields of Securities Brokerage, Banking, Corporate Finance and Investment Banking.

He joined AHL in 2013, as Chief Executive, responsible for all investment banking and Securities brokerage activities. Shahid has worked on over 50 transactions and raised more than PKR 350 billion across equity, structured equity and bonds for both corporate and sovereign clients. He was the Domestic Team Leader of Pakistan’s largest equity market transaction, “The HBL Secondary offering” worth PKR 107 bn and others significant transactions including UBL secondary offering of PKR 41 bn and Engro Fertilizers offering of PKR 20 bn. He has also originated several M&A transactions over the years.

During his tenure, AHL was awarded ‘Best Equity Brokerage House’ multiple times by the CFA Association of Pakistan (CFAP) and Best Investment Banking House by Asiamoney and The Asset. The company also has the distinction of being awarded Best Investment Banking House for 8 consecutive years by CFAP and multiple times by Asiamoney, FinanceAsia and The Asset during Shahid’s tenure as CEO. The growth and progress made under his guidance has also been acknowledged by Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) with AHL the only brokerage house to be a multiple recipient of the ‘Top 25 listed companies award’.

Shahid has previously served as Executive Director and Chairman of a few local equity brokerage and financial services institutions and also worked at leading banks in Saudi Arabia and Canada. He regular serves as member of various committees at the PSX including Development and Trading Affairs Committee, New Product Committee, Companies Affairs and Corporate Governance Committee.

He holds an MBA in Finance from the Institute of Business & Administration (IBA) and has a Certification in Finance from London School of Economics (LSE) as well as a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from FAST ICS.

Ms. Sharmin Shahid has over 21 years of experience in the field of Securities Brokerage and Portfolio Management. She was awarded the top position in her Bachelor’s Degree in Commerce and has also participated in the Directors’ Training Program.

Sharmin actively participates in welfare activities and remains one of the trustees of Memon Health and Education Foundation (MHEF). Under her patronage & direction AHL has continued to excel and become a leading name in the industry.

Mr. Mohsin Madni is the Chief Financial Officer of Arif Habib Corporation Limited. His role encompasses a wide range of matters ranging from finance and taxation. Mr. Madni is an Associate Member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Pakistan (ICAP) and holds a Master’s Degree in Economics & Finance. He is also a member of Pakistan Institute of Public Finance Accountants (PIPFA) and Institute for Internal Controls, USA. Mr. Madni completed his Articleship from KPMG Taseer Hadi & Co., where he gained experience across diverse sectors serving clients in the Financial, Manufacturing, Trading and Services industries.

Mr. Haroon Usman is a Commerce Graduate and a Fellow Member of the Institute of Cost and Management Accountants of Pakistan. He has over 50 years’ experience in the fields of commerce, finance and industry. He has served a number of local and foreign organizations of repute in different executive positions related to accounts, finance, general management and consultancy, both in Pakistan and abroad.

Haroon serves as member of the Human Resource & Remuneration Committee as well as the Audit Committee of the company.

Dr. Muhammad Sohail Salat is a qualified and highly reputed Pediatrician and Neonatologist who holds a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery from Dow Medical College Karachi. He has a certification in General Pediatrics from United States of America and Fellowship in Neonatology, and is licensed from Pakistan Medical and Dental College. Dr Sohail completed his Residency in Pediatrics from Maimonides Medical Center and Interfaith Medical Center, Downstate University of New York and Fellowship in Neonatal Perinatal Medicine from Westchester Medical Center, New York Medical College, USA.

Dr. Sohail is associated with the Pakistan's top medical health care services provider, The Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH) Karachi where he currently works as an Associate Professor (Department of Pediatrics and Child Health).. He was previously associated with Ziauddin Medical University, Karachi.

Dr. Sohail is regarded as an expert in the fields of Pediatrics, Child Health and Neonatal Perinatal Medicine and has had numerous publications on those subjects and presented his work at various leading local and international conferences. He is actively involved in Pakistan Pediatric Association (PPA) a non-political organization for the better care of Pediatric patients in Pakistan. He is currently associated with PPA including Advisor to Neonatology group of PPA and currently holds the post of Treasurer of Pakistan Pediatrics Association (Center) and general secretary Pakistan Society of Inherited Metabolic disorders (PSIMD).

Taha Siddiqui is the Chief Financial Officer & Company Secretary of Arif Habib Limited. His role encompasses a wide range of matters ranging from finance, taxation, corporate law to compliance.

Taha is an Associate Member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Commerce. He has completed his Article ship from KPMG Taseer Hadi & Co., Chartered Accountants, where he gained experience of diverse sectors serving clients spanning the Financial, Manufacturing, Trading and Services industries.

He is an ACCA Member.

Mr. Tahir Abbas is the Head of Research & Investment Strategy at AHL and is responsible for leading the company’s Research department.

He possesses 9 years of experience in sell-side equity research and carries in-depth understanding of major sectors listed at the PSX with specialization in Industrial sectors and Energy chain aside from the Macro Economy.

Mr. Abbas was awarded as the Best Analyst in Pakistan by CFA Society Pakistan three times during his career, based on quality research, accuracy, and quality client service via provision of value creation investment ideas.

At AHL, Mr. Abbas oversees AHL Research services and client relationships, as well as servicing and query management for both domestic and international clients. He also represents AHL at international conferences and equity roadshows across global financial centers.

Mr. Tahir holds a Master’s degree in Business Administration with a majors in Finance.

Ms. Ayman Ashraf serves as the Head of Client Onboarding at Arif Habib Limited, where she has been an integral part of the team since 2021. With a dynamic background of 3.5 years in Sales, she excels in cultivating relationships with a diverse clientele, including retail clients, financial institutions, high-net-worth individuals, and investors.

Ms. Ashraf began her journey at Arif Habib Limited as an Officer in Sales & Marketing and quickly advanced to the role of Deputy Manager in International Sales & Trading. Her exceptional leadership and strategic acumen led to her current position as Head of Client Onboarding.

Her proactive approach has been instrumental in driving new trading relationships, significantly enhancing the company’s client base and market presence. Ms. Ashraf holds a Bachelor’s degree in Materials Engineering, which complements her analytical prowess with a strong technical foundation.

Sana Tawfik brings a wealth of experience and expertise to her role as the Head of Research at Arif Habib Limited. With a diversified background in financial services, Sana has built her career through significant roles in multiple banks, a brokerage house, and a consultancy firm. Her extensive experience spans key departments such as Treasury, Investment Banking, and Research, where she has excelled as a corporate sales dealer, research consultant, and analyst. Throughout her career, Sana has been involved in corporate sales dealings, conducting economic and financial assessments, and delivering in-depth research insights.

As the Head of Research at Arif Habib Limited, Sana leverages her extensive experience to lead the research team, ensuring the delivery of high-quality and insightful research to company’s clientele.

Sana's impressive academic credentials include MBA degrees in Finance and a Master’s Degree in Economics.

Mr. Zilley Askari has over 19 years of work experience at leading Interbank Brokerage Houses of the industry. This includes 9 years in money market and 10 years in foreign exchange dealing at various levels. He has headed the Foreign Exchange desk in AMZ Securities for a period of 4 years.

Zilley’s money market expertise encompasses money and bond market and prior to joining AHL he held senior dealer’s position at IGI Finex Securities, AMZ Securities and Vital Capital Markets.

At AHL, as person in-charge, he is responsible for the planning, guiding and supervision of Money Market & Foreign Exchange Desk along with market making of TFCs.

He holds a degree of M. Com (Finance) from the University of Karachi.

Faizan Hanif is the Head of Compliance at AHL. His role encompasses a wide range of matters including formulating policies and procedures, conducting and managing due diligence of all accounts ensuring compliance with rules and regulations including AML compliances, and also perform risk management at client and at house level. He also provides intellectual leadership on internal controls and formulate and implement the Company’s annual internal control program.

Faizan is a Qualified Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), Certificate holder of CA Intermediate from Institute of Chartered Accountants of Pakistan and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Commerce.

Mr. Khalil ur Rehman is Certified Professional from Institute of Financial Market of Pakistan. He possess 15 years of dynamic experience in Equity Sales, Trading & Investment advisory in various notable market entities.

He joined Arif Habib Limited as a Branch Manager in 2018. Later, he was promoted as ‘Regional Head’ after successfully managing Islamabad Branch and expanding branch network to different cities.

His enthusiasm plays a vital role in initiating new trading relationships to expand company's client base and market share. By acknowledging his efforts in flourishing different branches under his supervision and providing visionary directions, he has been promoted to the position of Vice President. The new position entails bearing all the management responsibilities pertaining to wide branch-network of the company. He is well equipped of market fundamentals and dynamics and his well-built connections with domestic institutional investors/HNWI enables him to generate and enhance the trade in large.

Mr. Akber Suleman is working as Head of Settlement. He is associated with this group since 1994. He has over 29 year’s experience of handling the Settlements with PSX, NCCPL, CDC and client’s relationships.

He has served a number of organizations of repute in different executive positions related to Settlement & related services.

A part of Arif Habib Limited, he is also associated with other group companies.

Saquib has 11 years of professional experience in the financial sector spanning across investment banking & equity research. Saquib is currently serving as Director, Investment Banking at Arif Habib Limited and has been part of the Arif Habib Group since 2012.

Saquib has broad experience encompassing mergers & acquisition advisory, financial & strategic advisory, equity & debt placements and project finance. Saquib has executed transactions worth c. US$ 3.0 billion including some of the largest transactions in Pakistan that have been recognized both internationally and domestically by the Asset Triple A Awards, GlobalCapital, Asiamoney and the CFA Society of Pakistan.

Saquib is a CFA Charterholder, a Fellow of ACCA and has a bachelor’s degree from Oxford Brookes University, UK.

Mr. Fahim Ullah Khan is working at AHL as Head of Back Office. He is associated with this group since 1994. He has over 30 years’ experience of handling, monitoring and supervising the Back Office Activities. Further, he also monitors account opening activities related to back office and handles queries of different regulators and client’s.

He has served a number of organizations of repute in different executive positions related to Back office related functions.

A part from Arif Habib Limited, he is also associated with other group companies.