Sherry Rehman
President
Senator Sherry Rehman is Pakistan’s Federal Minister of Climate Change, Vice President of the UNEA, and founding chair of the Jinnah Institute, an Islamabad think tank committed to building inclusion in national security policy. Rehman has served as Pakistan Senate’s first woman Leader of the Opposition as well as Parliamentary Leader of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) in the Senate and holds a political portfolio as the party’s Vice-President. Ranked on the Time Magazine 100 Most Influential People of 2023 and Financial Times list of the 25 most influential women of 2022, Rehman currently features on the Forbes 50 Over 50 List for women achievers for 2023 in Asia, while the Washington Post named her one of the top ten global movers and shakers to watch at COP27 for her climate diplomacy. Sherry Rehman has also served as Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States and Federal Information Minister, while holding three additional portfolios as Minister for Health, Women and Culture. As a fourth-term Parliamentarian, diplomat, journalist, and civil society activist who has received Pakistan’s highest civil award, the Nishan-e-Imtiaz. Rehman is also founding chair of the Senate Parliamentary Caucus on Climate Change and has served as Chair of Pakistan Red Crescent.
Salman Zaidi
Director Programs
Salman Zaidi works as Director Programs at Jinnah Institute. He was part of the Institute’s founding team in 2010 and leads on multiple thematic areas, particularly Track 2 diplomacy projects, democratic governance, and climate change. Zaidi also consults with international development agencies on improving federal and provincial policy frameworks for security, technology, economic growth, and climate change. He is currently a member of the PM’s Advisory Council on Climate Change and has previously been a member of the National Security Advisory Group on Gender. He has authored and edited multiple publications, and holds an MSc in Violence, Conflict and Development from SOAS, UK.
Salman Zaidi can be reached at salmanzaidi@jinnah-institute.org
Syed Mustehsan Rasool
Director Finance
Syed Mustehsan is Director Finance at Jinnah Institute. With 13 years of experience in the field of Accounting and Finance, he is responsible for managing treasury functions of the Jinnah Institute. He holds an Executive Masters of Business Administration (EMBA) from the Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Institute of Science and Technology (SZABIST).
Syed Mustehsan Rasool can be contacted at mustehsan@jinnah-institute.org
Ahsan Qazi
Program Manager
Ahsan Qazi is the Program Manager at Jinnah Institute. A legal professional and academic, he has four years of experience in the field of international law and policy. Ahsan has also contributed to the academic sector, notably as a faculty member at the Denning Law School in Karachi. Here, he developed and taught modules on Public International Law and the International Protection of Human Rights. He also founded the Centre for Law, Justice & Policy – a law and policy think-tank housed in the law school.
In addition to his roles in policy and education, Ahsan has been involved in several research initiatives, contributing articles to various leading publications on topics pertaining to human rights and international law. His insights have also been featured in podcasts where he discussed some of the issues pertaining to these fields.
He aims to bring a positive change in the legal landscape of Pakistan through his initiatives and research.
Ahsan Qazi can be reached at ahsanqazi@jinnah-institute.org
Zarghona Babar
Project Manager
Zarghona Babar works as Project Manager at Jinnah Institute, specializing in stakeholder engagement and strategic decision-making. Equipped with a master’s in Human Resource Management from SZABIST and a BSc.(Hons) degree in Sociology from LSE, UK, Zarghona brings a multidisciplinary approach to project management, complemented by strong skills in data analysis, research, advocacy, and sustainability reporting. Her achievements include obtaining successfully conducting Social Ratings and Client Protection Certifications in the microfinance sector. With a proven ability to plan impactful events and lead engaging webinars, Zarghona has built strong relationships with multiple stakeholders including government officials and civil society organizations. Additionally, she has a successful track record in managing environmental and social governance functions in the microfinance sector ensuring regulatory compliance and driving sustainability initiatives
Zarghona Babar can be reached at: zarghona.baber@jinnah-institute.org
Amna Urooj
Project Manager
Amna Urooj is a seasoned professional working as Project Manager at Jinnah Institute, specializing in public policy. She holds an M.Phil in Public Policy and a BS in Governance and Public Policy, showcasing her strong academic background. As a Local Pathway Fellow for 2023, Amna is part of a global network dedicated to sustainable urban development. Her experience includes roles as Department Lead for Sustainability & Compliance and Research Analyst.
Amna holds certifications in climate resilience, AI for policy, and circular economy. She’s also an accomplished author, with publications on topics like cotton crisis, economic policy, and environmental impact assessment. Her passion for policy, leadership, and research make Amna a valuable asset to Jinnah Institute.
Amna Urooj can be reached at: amnaurooj@jinnah-institute.org
Raza Rumi
Senior Research Fellow
Raza Ahmad Rumi is a Senior Research Fellow at Jinnah Institute. Raza is an international development expert, a renowned writer and journalist. Prior to joining JI, he was working for the Asian Development Bank, Manila as an economist/governance specialist. Earlier, he has worked for the Government of Pakistan, a number of Pakistani NGO networks, the United Nations and has consulted extensively for various development agencies. Raza is also an academic adviser to Network of Asia
Pacific Schools and Institutes of Public Administration and Governance; Public Policy Adviser to Leadership for Environment and Development, Pakistan; and a member of the Advisory Board of ASR Resource Centre and South Asian Institute of Women’s studies, Lahore. Raza has authored several research papers and publications on governance, institutional development and South Asian arts and culture. He also writes for the Pakistani and regional media. Rumi has been a consulting editor at The Friday Times and Himal SouthAsia. His columns are frequently published in daily Express-Tribune and The News in Pakistan; and The Hindu, Asian Age and other publications in India. Raza holds a Bachelor (Economics) and Master degree (Social Planning) from the London School of Economics, UK. He has also been trained in law and public administration and law at the Civil Services Academy, Pakistan.
Raza Rumi can be contacted on razaahmadrumi@gmail.com.
Zahid Hussain
Senior Research Fellow
Zahid Hussain is an award-winning journalist and writer. He has been a correspondent for The Times of London and The Wall Street Journal. He also has covered Pakistan and Afghanistan for several other international publications, including Newsweek, Associated Press, The Economist and India Today, and is a regular columnist for the Dawn newspaper in Pakistan. He was Pakistan scholar at Woodrow Wilson International Centre for Scholars, Washington. D.C (2011-2012). He has also been a visiting fellow at Wolfson College, University of Cambridge (1999) and at Henry Stimson Center, Washington D.C (1994) Hussain has authored two books: Frontline Pakistan: The struggle with militant Islam (2007) and The scorpion’s tail: The relentless rise of Islamic militants in Pakistan (2010). Both books have won widespread acclaim as seminal texts on the subject. He has also contributed chapters: “Deliberate nuclear ambiguity” in the book “Pakistan and nuclear bomb”. Notre Dame University Press (1999), and “Battling militancy” in the book “Pakistan-Beyond crisis”.Columbia University Press (2011).
Willson William
Executive Assistant
Willson William is Executive Assistant at the Jinnah Institute. William provides support in maintaining accounts and provides administrative support to the Institute while managing logistics and procurement.