Speakers

Hideaki Iwasaki

Director General, Sectors Department 1 - Asian Development Bank (ADB)

ADB

Hideaki Iwasaki is a Japanese professional with over 30 years of experience in transport infrastructure and regional development. Educated at the University of Tokyo and Virginia Tech, he leads the Energy & Transport sectors at ADB, with significant past roles including Deputy Director General for the Pacific, Country Director for Thailand, and senior leadership in transport across Southeast Asia and Central & West Asia.

Reza Akbari

Deputy Minister, Iran Road Maintenance & Transport Organization

Iran (IRI)

Dr. Reza Akbari is an academic and researcher prominently focused on management, strategy, and innovation. He holds a faculty position (Associate Professor) and is recognized for contributions in supply chain management, outsourcing, and business systems thinking.

Jabar Ali Zakeri

Deputy Minister and Managing Director, Iran Railways

Iran (IRI)

Dr. Zakeri is a civil engineer by training (PhD from Beijing Jiaotong University), currently serving as Iran’s Deputy Minister for Roads & Urban Development and leading the Iranian Railways (RAI) as its President. He also works in academia as a Professor of Railway Engineering at IUST, focusing on infrastructure, rail safety, track dynamics, and transport system development.

Yagmyrov Kakajan

Head of International Relations and Logistics Department Ministry of Automobile Transport

Turkmenistan

Kakajan Yagmyrow leads the international relations division of Turkmenistan’s automobile transport agency (Turkmenawtoulaglary). He represents the agency in regional transport diplomacy, multilateral forums, and cooperation frameworks, helping coordinate cross-border transit, transport policy, and logistical alignment with international partners.

Nourou-Dine

Operation Team Leader (Economic Infrastructures)

IsDB

Nourou-Dine leads operations for economic infrastructure projects, overseeing project planning, implementation, and coordination. He works on portfolio management, stakeholder collaboration, and ensures projects align with quality, timeline, and budget expectations.

Syed Mazhar Ali Shah

Chairman Pakistan Railways

Pakistan

Syed Mazhar Ali Shah is a senior civil servant with over two decades of experience in transport planning, operations, and management. An engineer and MBA (Finance) graduate, he leads Pakistan Railways’ modernization and infrastructure initiatives as its Chairman and Secretary.

Mr. Muhammad Shoaib Dogar

General Manager (Planning), NHA

Pakistan

Mohammad Shoaib Dogar is a senior official in Pakistan’s National Highway Authority where he leads the Planning division. His role involves strategic development, infrastructure planning, execution monitoring of highway projects, and supporting policy formulation under the Ministry of Communications.

Syed Ali Asad Gilani

Additional Secretary, ECO and CARs Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Pakistan

Syed Ali Asad Gilani is a senior Pakistani diplomat serving as Additional Secretary at the ECO and CARs Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He oversees regional cooperation, diplomatic relations, and policy coordination with countries in the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) and Central Asian Republics (CARs), playing a key role in advancing Pakistan’s foreign policy and regional engagement initiatives.

Ambassador Dr. Asad Majeed Khan

The Secretary General of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO)

ECO

Ambassador Dr. Asad Majeed Khan is a Pakistani diplomat and former Foreign Secretary with over 35 years of service. Now leading the ECO as Secretary-General, Dr. Khan focuses on regional cooperation, trade connectivity, and sustainable economic growth among member states.

Umberto de Pretto

Secretary General of the International Road Transport Union (IRU)

IRU

Since June 2013, Umberto de Pretto has served as Secretary General of IRU. He joined the organization in 1995 and advanced through roles including Head of Economic Affairs, Policy Coordinator, Head of Strategy, and Deputy Secretary General. He holds a degree from Carleton University and previously worked in Canada’s Parliament and the International Chamber of Commerce.

H.E. Farzaneh Sadegh

Minister of Roads and Urban Development, Islamic Republic of Iran

Iran (IRI)

Farzaneh Sadegh is an Iranian architect and urban planner born in 1976 in Hamadan. She became the Minister of Roads and Urban Development of Iran in August 2024. Before that, she served as Deputy Minister of Urban Planning and Secretary of the Supreme Council of Urban Planning and Architecture.

Syed Aftab Haider

CEO Pakistan Single Window

Pakistan

Syed Aftab Haider has over 22 years of experience in public service, especially in customs reform, trade facilitation, and border management. He played a key role in developing the WeBOC system for Pakistan Customs and has led the design and implementation of the Pakistan National Single Window since 2017. He holds a Master’s degree in Public Administration from Harvard University.

ali raza hanjra

project director CAREC - RIBS

Pakistan

Ali Hanjra holds a Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering and is currently a professional based in Pakistan, with experience in strategy, operational excellence and project leadership across public and private sectors.

maj. gen farrukh shahzad rao

director general, NLC

Pakistan

Maj Gen Farrukh Shahzad Rao is the Director General of National Logistics Cell (NLC) in Pakistan. He is leading the organisation’s expansion into regional land-route connectivity, including trade corridors through China and Central Asia.

Shoaib Ahmed Khan

GM, TIR Road Freight JVCO

Pakistan

Shoaib Ahmed Khan is the General Manager at TIR Road Freight, JVCO, overseeing logistics operations and road transport services. He manages freight planning, supply chain efficiency, and strategic initiatives to ensure timely delivery and operational growth.

H.E. Mr. Bimal Niroshan Rathnayake

Minister of Transport, Highways and Urban Development

Sri Lanka

Bimal Rathnayake is a Sri Lankan politician and parliamentarian known for his leadership in national infrastructure and transport development. As Minister of Transport, Highways, Ports & Civil Aviation, he focuses on improving connectivity, safety, and sustainable mobility across the country.

Dr. Rizwan Naseer

Founder Director General, Rescue 1122

Pakistan

Founder of Pakistan’s modern emergency service Rescue 1122, Dr. Rizwan Naseer has led its expansion across Punjab and earned the Sitara-i-Imtiaz for his contributions to public safety and emergency management.

Dr. kamran Ahmed

Head of Department NUST Institute of Civil Engineering

Pakistan

Dr. Kamran Ahmed is a transportation and highway engineering expert with over two decades of experience in road safety, traffic engineering, and transport planning. He serves as CEO of TRAFSAFE Pvt. Ltd and Assistant Professor at NUST. A PhD graduate from Michigan State University, he is also a certified road safety auditor from University College Dublin and has led multiple national transport and safety projects across Pakistan.

Dr. Muhammad Zaman

Professor of Sociology, QAU

Pakistan

Dr. Muhammad Zaman is a sociologist at Quaid-i-Azam University with a PhD from Leipzig University. He has authored two books and over 30 research papers covering family, youth politics, criminology, and development. His work has earned recognition from DAAD, DFG, and HEC, including the Best Young Researcher Award (2021) and a place among the world’s top 2% scientists in 2020.

Aizaz Ahmed

Road Safety Audit Expert

Pakistan

Aizaz Ahmed is a road safety audit expert specializing in transport infrastructure evaluation and safety management, contributing to safer and more efficient road networks.

Nauman Ahmad

PHD

Pakistan

Khalid Mahmood

IGP Retd

Pakistan

Khalid Mahmood is a retired Inspector General of Police with extensive experience in law enforcement, public safety, and administrative leadership, known for his service in maintaining security and institutional integrity.

Mr. Iftikhar Rashid

Ex-Secretary Communications/Ex-Inspector General of Police

Pakistan

Iftikhar Rashid is a retired senior police officer and former Inspector General of Police, who later served as Secretary of the Ministry of Communications. He founded the National Highways & Motorway Police and played a key role in modernizing Pakistan’s road infrastructure and transport policies.

Abdul Latheef Mohamed

Minister of State for Transport

Maldives

Abdul Latheef is an experienced maritime and aviation professional with a strong background in policy, regulation, and transport development. Educated at South Tyneside College (UK) and Singapore Polytechnic, Capt. Latheef focuses on building safe, connected, and sustainable transport systems across the Maldives.

Saeed Rasouli

Deputy Minister and Managing Director, Ports & Maritime Organization, Iran

Iran (IRI)

As Deputy Minister and Acting Head of the PMO, Rasouli is responsible for overseeing Iran’s maritime infrastructure, ports operations, and logistics development. He has emphasized expanded port capacity (e.g. at Amirabad), reforming investment procedures, strengthening transit and maritime economy, and boosting connectivity across northern and southern ports.

Rear Adm (R) Syed Moazzam Ilyas

Chairman Port Qasim Authority

Pakistan

A retired senior naval officer with 40+ years of service, Syed Moazzam Ilyas has held key operational and command roles in the Pakistan Navy. A graduate of King’s College London and the UK’s Joint Command & Staff College, he was appointed Chairman of PQA in November 2024 to oversee port operations and expansion initiatives.

Vice Admiral Iftikhar Ahmed Rao

Former SAPM Maritime Affairs

Pakistan

Vice Admiral Rao is a retired naval officer with over 40 years of maritime experience. He has served in senior Navy roles such as Deputy Chief of Naval Staff (Operations), Commander Coast, and Managing Director of Karachi Shipyard. As SAPM on Maritime Affairs, he has championed reforms like the National Maritime Policy 2025 and advocated for Pakistan’s accession to international agreements like the Hong Kong Convention.

Asim Siddique

CEO Pakistan Intermodal Limited

Pakistan

Aasim Siddiqui is a logistics and infrastructure business leader with over 25 years of experience. He has played a central role in developing and financing major transport-logistics projects in Pakistan, including Pakistan Intermodal Ltd, Pakistan International Container Terminal (PICT), and Pakistan International Bulk Terminal (PIBT). He has also chaired the National Insurance Corporation and worked on CSR, public policy, and think-tank initiatives.

Muhammad Rehan Younas

Chairman and Founder Verdix & Navetra (UAE)

UAE

Muhammad Rehan Younas is the President of the International Institute of Science, Arts & Technology in sialkot. He also serves as Executive Director and has held leadership roles in education and institutional management.

Cdr. Muhammad Jawad Akhtar

Technical Advisor, Maritime Affairs

Pakistan

Dr. Mohammed Jawad Akhtar is a Technical Advisor for Maritime Affairs, offering expert guidance on maritime policies, port operations, and strategic development. He plays a key role in enhancing maritime infrastructure, improving regulatory frameworks, and supporting initiatives that strengthen the efficiency and competitiveness of the maritime sector.