Our Team.

13TH EXECUTIVE COUNCIL - 2025-2026

Prof. Mehtab Karim
President
Dr. Mehtab S. Karim has been elected as President of Population Association of Pakistan (PAP) for 2025-26. He is also a founding member of PAP which has over 500 members associated with academic and research organization working in the fields of population and reproductive health. Dr. Karim is a Professor Emeritus at Aga Khan University in Karachi and earlier worked at Aga Khan University, Johns Hopkins University, Princeton University and George Mason University, the United Nations and the World Bank.
Dr. Farid Midhet
Vice President
Senior Professor, Bahria University
Dr. Farid Midhet is a distinguished public health professional with extensive experience in maternal and neonatal health, reproductive health, and health systems interventions. He holds a medical degree (MBBS) from the University of Balochistan, a Master of Public Health (MPH) from Columbia University, and a Doctorate in Public Health (DrPH) from Johns Hopkins University¹³. He is also a Fulbright scholar and has done research fellowships at Harvard University and National Institutes of Health, USA. Dr. Midhet has worked in various capacities, including as a Professor at the Health Services Academy in Islamabad, where he was the head of the department of Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health (RMNCH)¹. He has also worked at Qassim University Saudi Arabia as Associate Professor and Research Adviser. He has been involved in numerous health systems research and intervention projects in Pakistan and abroad. He has published extensively on topics related to public health. His career includes significant contributions to health policy and community-based health interventions in Pakistan and other developing countries. He founded the Safe Motherhood Alliance Pakistan, focusing on reducing maternal and neonatal mortality.
Dr. Saima Bashir
Secretary General
Manager Research, Population Council, Islamabad
Dr. Saima Bashir is currently working as Senior Research Demographer at Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE). Former Member Social Sector and Devolution, Ministry of Planning Development & Special Initiatives (MOPD&SI). She received her Ph.D in Sociology from Bowling Green State University, Ohio, USA in 2017. Trained as family demographer and sociologist, Dr. Bashir studies family formation behaviors in Pakistan. She is interested in studying the socio-economic and demographic explanation of high fertility particularly decision making related to childbearing in Pakistan. Recent and current line of research examines the linkages between climate change, Population, and vulnerability. Her research work provides evidence-based perspective on how population dynamics can inform climate change responses, including both mitigation and adaptation. In all her research, she pays close attention to gender and socioeconomic differentials to better understand the issue at hand. She is an active member of the family and demography national and international scholarly communities. Dr. Bashir is currently serving as Joint Secretary of the Population Association of Pakistan.
Dr Aysha Sheraz
Joint Secretary
Professor, Health Services Academy (HSA)
Dr Aysha Sheraz: A versatile and accomplished professional with a proven track record in initiating and leading diverse research projects, I bring extensive expertise in project management, strategic decision-making, and advanced program management methodologies. As a seasoned professional at various senior executive levels, I have consistently demonstrated success in managing complex and critical programs related to demography, population, and gender development. My roles especially involved, the implementation and comprehensive oversight of research projects, from the technical and financial proposal, and protocol preparation to the finalization of field plans, training, monitoring teams, and ensuring quality checks. I specialize in portfolio management, large-scale surveys, report writing, data analysis, and cleaning, as well as the preparation of tabulation plans. With a thorough approach, I have successfully aligned organizational and strategic decisions at the senior management level, showcasing the ability to coordinate and manage program activities effectively. A key strength lies in my capability to design and facilitate consultation workshops, engaging relevant stakeholders to obtain and validate information for inclusion in reports. Notably, I played a pivotal role in conducting the four cycles of the Pakistan Demographic and Health Survey (PDHS), Pakistan Maternal Mortality Survey (PMMS), and Longitudinal Panel Studies using the Performance Monitoring for Action (PMA) Framework in the four provinces of Pakistan, at the National Institute of Population Studies, Ministry of National Health Services, Regulation & Coordination, Pakistan. In addition to my responsibilities in research and survey, I have been in charge and excelled in human resource development coordination, establishing an advanced organizational culture, crafting deep bilateral partnerships with donors, and managing a pipeline of partnership projects under MOU frameworks. Active collaboration with colleagues across the Foundation and external partners, including WHO, GAVI, USAID, UNFPA, UNESCO, UNICEF, and the Melinda & Bill Gates Foundation, underscores my commitment to supporting communication and advocacy in health, gender, and population-related initiatives. In summary, I offer a unique blend of research leadership, project management acumen, and a deep commitment to advancing the goals of demography, population, and gender development. My dedication to excellence and success in navigating complex and dynamic environments make me a valuable asset for any senior execution role. Dr. Aysha is Doctorate of Philosophy in Anthropology & MS in Pakistan Studies from Quaid-i-Azam University Islamabad, Pakistan, Master of Science in Medical Demography from London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine UK. Currently working as Consultant/ Professor, Health Services Academy, Islamabad.
Mr. Badar ul Islam Siddiqui
Treasurer
Manager Grants and Compliance, Pathfinder International, Islamabad;
Mr. Bader ul Islam is a Compliance Manager at Pathfinder International, managing the Building Healthy Families project. He has over 19 years of experience in the development sector, including roles at Population Council.

Executive Council Members

Dr. Adnan A. Khan
public health researcher
Dr. Adnan A. Khan: I am a public health researcher specializing in family planning, reproductive health, and social determinants, with extensive experience in research, program monitoring and evaluation, and knowledge translation. My expertise includes analyzing large databases, leveraging technology for public health measurement, and interpreting data to inform policy and program design in developing countries. I hold formal training in research methods and have published over 50 peer-reviewed papers and 100+ policy papers. I have served as an Adjunct Assistant Professor at Vanderbilt and Indiana Universities and was Chief of the Health Policy Unit in Pakistan. As "Member Technical" for the Ministry of National Health Standards, I led COVID-19 data analysis, supported reform at the National Institutes of Health, and coordinated data analysis for the ministry. I co-chair the Performance Monitoring and Evaluation Working Group for FP2030 and have taught Monitoring & Evaluation in China and the MENA region. I have contributed to global initiatives like the Asian AIDS Data Hub and the UN Reference Group on HIV. My work spans collaborations with leading organizations such as the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, UNICEF, WHO, World Bank, and USAID. Currently, I lead Research and Development Solutions (RADS), a leading research group focused on family planning health and development. We help understand the context of family planning trends and directions in Pakistan and beyond.
Ms. Iram Kamran
M.Phil in anthropology
Ms. Iram Kamran holds an M.Phil in anthropology from Quaid-e-Azam University, Islamabad, and brings over 20 years of expertise in implementation science, research design (both qualitative and quantitative), project management, and evidence-based advocacy. Currently, she serves as Director of Programs at the Population Council, a non-profit organization dedicated to addressing critical health and development challenges, with a focus on enhancing reproductive health and empowering young people. Throughout her career, Ms. Kamran has led numerous projects, research studies, and evaluations across Pakistan, collaborating with provincial governments and various organizations on sensitive issues such as women's health, youth and adolescent development, girls’ education, gender equality, family planning, and gender-based violence. She has also contributed to strengthening health systems and promoting men's involvement in family planning. Ms. Kamran is skilled in producing comprehensive reports for donors and stakeholders, and she regularly presents evidence and recommendations at national and international forums. She has authored several peer-reviewed articles, commentaries, and a chapter in the Springer Handbook. Additionally, she participates in technical advisory groups and acts as a focal point for various initiatives and projects. Ms. Kamran has also been associated with the Population Association of Pakistan and has served as an Executive Council Member and as Joint Secretary for consecutive two terms (2018 – 2022).
Dr. Lubna Naz
Associate Professor in the Department of Economics at IBA Karachi
Dr. Lubna Naz is an Associate Professor in the Department of Economics at IBA Karachi. She holds a Ph.D. in Economics from the Pakistan Institute of Development Economics, Islamabad. With over 20 years of experience in teaching and research, she has projects spanning various domains, including climate change, human capital, social security schemes for home-based workers, vulnerability mapping of disaster-prone regions, and WASH, in coordination with national and international organizations. She contributes to the capacity building of early-career faculty and researchers as a trainer in quantitative methods in climate data and health in collaboration with international organizations, including USAID, Colorado Boulder University USA, Reading University UK, and ICIMOD. She is a distinguished member of the Expert Panel on Data Integration Community in Asia and Pacific-United Nations and a member of the review panel of research projects at the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan. She has earned several fellowships as a team lead from prestigious organizations, including USAID, the DHS program, IZA, and ICIMOD. She has presented her research at prominent institutions such as the World Bank, IMF, IHEA, PAA, and UNFPA.
Mr. Ayazuddin
statistician and demographer
Mr. Ayazuddin: An experienced statistician and demographer with over 30 years of expertise in national-level data collection and surveys. Led Pakistan's 7th Population and Housing Census (2023), Labour Force Survey (2024-25), and Mouza & Agriculture Census (2024). Expertise spans demographic analysis, survey design, data collection, evaluation, and data-driven results for policy formulation. Internationally trained in advanced statistical methods and demographic research, with a proven ability to oversee complex data collection and results compilation, guiding public policy and socioeconomic research initiatives to improve population welfare. Besides this I have worked as Member (Resource Management) and Project Director (PSLM). He is MA Applied Population Studies Research from University of Exeter, U.K and MA Economics from Sindh University Jamshoro, Pakistan
Ms. Memoona Qazi
Research Analyst at UNDP-Pakistan
Ms. Memoona Qazi is a Research Associate at the Graduate Institute of Development Studies, Lahore School of Economics and has been a member of the Population Association of Pakistan since 2021. She was recently awarded with an MPhil degree in Development Studies from the Lahore School of Economics in April 2023 and has a BSc Honors degree in Economics from the Kinnaird College, Lahore. She is a part of the research team at the Centre on International Migration, Remittances and Diaspora (CIMRAD) that is one of the major programs of the Lahore School of Economics. She wrote her MPhil thesis on “Son Preference and the Desire for an Additional Child in Pakistan”. She has worked on the Pakistan Migration Report 2024 published in June 2024, which is a biennial publication of CIMRAD. She also presented her joint work with Dr. Nasra Shah in the 10th workshop of the Gulf Research Meeting at Cambridge, UK and the paper titled “Some Reflections on Future Labor Migration from Pakistan to the Gulf Countries” has been accepted for a chapter in the forthcoming edited volume. More recently, she prepared a policy brief on Pakistan with Dr. Nasra Shah for a joint project of the Gulf Research Centre (GRC) and the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS) on “Highly Skilled Migration to the Gulf States” and is currently working on issues related to labor migration from Pakistan. Apart from research, she also assists Dr. Nasra Shah in her courses on ‘Research Methodology’ and ‘Population, Migration and Development’ at the MPhil program at LSE by teaching students survey data analysis using STATA software. Her research interests include demographic change, fertility preferences, migration, labor migration, irregular migration, climate change and development. She regularly writes Op-Eds in The News International newspaper on various socioeconomic issues. Currently, Ms Memoona is working as Research Analyst @ UNDP-Pakistan
Ms. Rabia Zafar
Director (Research & Survey) and Senior Fellow at the National Institute of Population Studies (NIPS)
Ms. Rabia Zafar is a seasoned research professional with over 30 years of experience, I possess a deep passion for driving impactful research outcomes in population studies, family planning, and reproductive health. My expertise spans public health research, in-depth analysis, impact assessments, multivariate analysis, monitoring and evaluation, proposal development, and research design. Currently serving as Director (Research & Survey) and Senior Fellow at the National Institute of Population Studies (NIPS), I have successfully led numerous high-profile surveys, including the Pakistan Demographic and Health Survey (PDHS) and Pakistan Maternal Mortality Survey (PMMS). My collaborative approach has fostered meaningful partnerships with international organizations such as UNFPA, USAID, and WHO. Throughout my career, I have demonstrated exceptional project management skills, securing funding and ensuring timely delivery of projects. My research has been published extensively in reputable journals and reports, showcasing my ability to translate complex data into actionable insights. With advanced expertise in statistical software (SPSS) and proficiency in English, Urdu, and Punjabi, I am well-equipped to navigate complex research landscapes. My academic background, including Master in Anthropology from Quaid-i-Azam University Islamabad has provided a solid foundation for my research endeavors. I am committed to continuing my work at the forefront of research, contributing to evidence-based policy decisions that improve the lives of individuals and communities.
Mr. Tahir Ahmed Qureshi
Program Manager
Population Association of Pakistan, Islamabad