Core Team

Malik Muhammad Akram holds a Master of Engineering degree in Irrigation and Drainage from the Asian Institute of Technology in Bangkok, Thailand. With over 35 years of experience in his field, he has been involved in the planning, design, coordination, and implementation of various on-farm water management projects. During his career, he has successfully designed and overseen the implementation of 23 foreign-assisted and PSDP/ADP funded development projects, which have amounted to a total value of Rs.179 billion. He began his service as a Water Management Officer and has since held several senior positions, including Deputy Director, District Officer (OFWM), Deputy Project Director, Director General Agriculture (Water Management), Director General Agriculture (Pest Warning & Quality Control of Pesticides), Director General Agriculture (Field) Punjab, and Project Director (PD) of nine foreign aided and PSDP/ADP funded national projects. He has also traveled to Thailand, the Philippines, Australia, and Tanzania to exchange knowledge and transfer technology. In recognition of his contributions to agriculture development in the country, he has been granted BS-21 by the Punjab Government.

Hafiz Qaisar Yasin holds two master degrees one in Sustainability and Climate Policy from Australia on Australia Awards Program and other in Water Resources Management from AIT, Thailand on Netherlands Awards. He has over 13 years of experience in planning, designing and implementation of projects that focuses on natural resources management, climate resilient agriculture, environmental conservation, precision farming, and climate-water governance. As a lead Planning, his major responsibilities include collaborating with international development partners such as the World Bank, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Asian Development Bank, and International Water Management Institute for innovative project design, mobilizing climate finance, and execution of schemes aimed at helping vulnerable farming communities to adapt to climate-smart practices. He has attended international trainings and conferences for knowledge exchange and professional development.

Dr. Maqsood Ahmad
Director, Water Management Training Institute
Dr. Maqsood Ahmad holds a Ph.D. degree in Soil Science/Agricultural Technology from Okayama University in Japan, and has approximately 28 years of field experience in participatory irrigation management, improving conveyance, application, and water use efficiencies at the farm level to maximize the yield of all cultivated crops through high efficiency irrigation. His career began as an Assistant Research Officer at the Institute of Soil Fertility (Research) Punjab, Bahawalpur. He later joined the Water Management Wing of the Agriculture Department as a Water Management Specialist, and has since held various positions, including Assistant Director Technical, Soil Scientist, Deputy Project Director (GTC-CADP-I), Deputy Director (Hqrs.), Director of the Water Management Training Institute, and Deputy Project Director (Watercourses) for PIPIP. He has traveled to Japan, China, Afghanistan, and the Philippines to exchange experiences and acquire new technologies related to on-farm water management for irrigated and barani areas.

Matlub Elahi
Deputy Project Director (NPIW-II Project)
Matlub Elahi holds a MSc. (Hons.) degree in Agricultural Economics from the University of Agriculture Faisalabad, and has approximately 29 years of dynamic experience in OFWM field activities and managerial functions at OFWM Headquarters. His career began in 1990 as an Agricultural Officer in the Water Management Wing of the Agriculture Department, and he has since held various key positions, including Assistant Director Technical, Publicity Officer, Assistant Agronomist, Agricultural Economist, Deputy Director (A&A), Deputy Director (M&E), and Deputy Project Director (Watercourses) for PIPIP. He has received training on project planning, preparation, appraisal, implication, monitoring & evaluation, and procurement practices under World Bank-funded projects from well-reputed national institutes such as MPDD, as well as international agencies such as the World Bank.