Muhammad Ahmad Awan

+923004614418 | ahmad.awan847@gmail.com
298-E PCSIR Staff Society College Road Lahore, Pakistan
EDUCATION

MS. Development Studies (Development, Technology & Policy)

Information Technology University, Lahore, (2017-2020)
CGPA 3.06

BS. Information Technology

University of Education, (2011- 2015)
CGPA 3.37

WORK EXPERIENCE

1. Program Officer, Program Implementation Unit, Government of Punjab, Pakistan

April 2022-Present

Program Implementation Unit coordinates and monitors the execution of the highly challenging, technical and multi-
sectoral world bank funded programs of the Government of Punjab. The lending instruments are Program for Results
(P4R) and the loan proceeds are linked with the achievement of Disbursement Linked Indicators (DLI). I am engaged
in Monitoring, Coordination, Budgeting, Stakeholder Engagement and Third-Party Validation of the $ 200
million Punjab Resource Improvement and Digital Effectiveness Program (PRIDE) and $ 300 million Strengthening
Markets for Agriculture and Rural Transformation (SMART) Program.

SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Facilitate and coordinate with the World Bank team for budgetary allocations, formulation of the program
and review of the program, especially with the implementation agencies.
2. Initiated and supervise the formulation of a Monitoring Dashboard to assess the progression of Reformation
in Punjab.
3. Facilitate Third-Party Validation of reforms implemented under the SMART reforms agenda.
4. Organize stakeholder engagement sessions with the public and private sector representatives to apprise
them of and seek feedback on key initiatives taken by the Government of Punjab.
5. Liaison with the World Bank Group, Board of Investment, and reform implementing agencies such as
Planning & Development Board, Planning Commission of Pakistan, Punjab Finance Department, Punjab
Agriculture Department and Punjab Information Technology Board.
6. Provide implementation support and inputs on specific reform issues to all implementing agencies.
7. Formulate and implement an extensive communication strategy for the dissemination of key reforms.
8. Assist the World Bank team in collecting data from Pakistan for the calculation of the Doing Business Index

2. Research Associate (Portfolio Management), Planning & Development Board, Government of Punjab, Pakistan
April 2017 – April 2022

I was attached to the Production Sector Wing of the P&D Board. Prepared Annual Development Program (ADP) of $
500 million from 2017 to 2022. Provide support in the development budget formulation, project cycle
management and portfolio management by conducting evidence-based need assessment of the development
projects after consulting stakeholders. Process case for approval of financial resources for development projects by
analyzing development financial ceilings and sectoral policies. Serving as a focal point for coordination, monitoring,
and evaluation of project implementation activities, involving extensive liaison across the Institute, national and
international development partners (UNDP, USAID, World Bank, IFAD, NRSP, JICA, ADB, FAO) to initiate requests,
prepare standard terms of reference against project objectives, obtain necessary clearances, process, follow-up on
administrative actions, and resolve issues related to project implementation. Liaise with relevant stakeholders, and
obtain necessary approval from various approving forums to ensure project compliances and execution.
SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Formulation of Annual Development Budget, Provincial Government Vision, Policies and Strategies for economic
planning and development in consultation with government and private sector stakeholders.
2. Assist in the preparation and implementation of the Annual Development Programme (ADP) / Medium Term
Development Framework (MTDF):
a) Assist in the preparation of Annual Development Programme (ADP) guidelines, and ensure compliance with
government policy.
b) Coordination with public and private stakeholders for draft development proposals/ Project Concepts.
c) Device project evaluation mechanism for provincial policies, strategies & SDGs,
d) Inclusion of vibrant proposals in ADP after deliberations and available development budgetary ceiling.
e) Review and edit project description, project scope, financial/loan allocation, and procurement plan, on the
online development portal/SMDP.
f) Participation in the department's portfolio review meetings at the department and provincial levels.
g) Evaluation of approved development projects and programmes throughout the planning cycle.
3. Research, compile, analyse, and summarise complex information on assigned projects and draft reports/
recommendations for internal and external stakeholders
4. Provide support in the preparation of project budget proposals and in carrying out periodic budget
implementation reviews for the projects.
5. Organize and maintain Grants records and documentation, maintain departmental databases, and track
grant/loan/TA activity progress.
6. Coordinating, collating and integrating information for the development projects and design of grant-funded
resilience-focused programming within the assigned sectors.
7. Financial and substantive monitoring and evaluation of the projects, identification of operational and financial
problems, development of solutions through SMDP (online MIS for monitoring of development
programmes/projects) and participation in programme/project audit.
8. Provides backup support for project analysis and research of information on donors, preparation of substantive
briefs on possible areas of cooperation, and identification of opportunities for initiation of new projects.
9. Support and assistance in producing project completion reports, emerging development issues and changing
socio-economic landscape of Punjab.
10. Performs other duties as may be required.

PARTICIPATION IN MEGAPROJECT OF P&D BOARD PUNJAB

Punjab Irrigated-Agriculture Productivity Improvement Project (PIPIP)-World Bank Assisted

(2011-2021)
Rating by World Bank: Highly Satisfied

PIPIP is a USD 250 million project, its main objective is to improve the productivity of water use in irrigated
agriculture. This will be achieved through improved physical delivery efficiency and irrigation practices, crop
diversification and effective application of inputs that will translate into greater agricultural output per unit of water
used. Engaged with project design, project planning, stakeholder consultation, and scrutinizing project documents
for approval from economic forums.

3. Client Services & Customer Support Executive, Confiz Limited Lahore

November 2016 – April 2017

I worked for Confiz Limited as a client services & customer support executive, focusing on the preparation of technical
reports by collecting, analyzing, and summarizing information from Microsoft Dynamics AX. I undertook a review of
queries by exploring SQL databases and finding solutions to technical issues. I am also assisting in analyzing,
maintaining and cleaning data for the analysis and decision-making of retail industry clients. In addition, I also
coordinate with clients for ticket resolution.
POLICY ANALYSIS

Punjab Agriculture Policy 2018

Analysis and preparation of comments on Punjab Agriculture policy 2017, submitted by agriculture department for
approval and implementation. Find gaps between proposed R&D interventions and sustainable environmental
practices. There is also a lack of a comprehensive regulatory regime for the seed industry and unattended issues
related to soil conservation, water-logging & salinity.

Policy on Controlling Smog 2017

Critically examining the Punjab smog policy 2017, gaps related to the technical capabilities of the Punjab environment
department were identified. Recommended focus on an effective media campaign against straw burring during the
winter session in Punjab.

LITERACY & NON-FORMAL BASIC EDUCATION 2019

Assist in the evaluation of policy documents according to provincial growth strategy 2023. Found missing links with
external stakeholders and proposed structural & governance reforms in the management of the department

SKILLS

 Command on drafting & editing in MS Office suite.

 Communication with stakeholders.
 Knowledge regarding quantitative and qualitative statistical data analysis in areas of social science, internal
and/or international mixed migration and human mobility.
 Experience in data processing and project administration activities
 Workload management within a general schedule of work, instructions and standardized practices.
 Work collaboratively with teams

PROGRAMMING SKILLS

Expert: STATA, Excel,

Intermediate: SQL
Beginner: Python

PIECES OF TRAINING

Globalization and Development Strategies, UNCTAD Summer School 2020

August 15th – 23rd, 2020
Microsoft Project: Pakistan Planning and Management Institute (PPMI) Starting January 2020
January 22nd –24th 2020
Participated in two days workshop organized by PPMI. Learn how to formulate a project plan from scratch, allocate
financial resources, Human resource management and formulation of Gantt chart.

Punjab procurement rules, financial guidelines and UNDP PCOM rules for effective financial management:
P&D Board
February 19th – 20th, 2019
Participated in an online training program by UNCTAD on Globalization and Development Strategies. We discuss how
to connect the intellectual challenge of rethinking economic analysis to the practical challenge of building a healthier,
more resilient, more equal and greener future for all.

The Practice of PDIA: Building Capability by Delivering Results-Harvard University

February 4th – May 18th, 2018
Participated in an online training program by Harvard University. Problem Driven Iterative Adaptation (PDIA), is a
step-by-step approach which helps you break down your problems into their root causes, identify entry points, search
for possible solutions, take action, reflect upon what you have learned, and adapt and then act again. Learned how to
solve complex social problems related to public sector institutions and drive results by using the PDIA toolkit.
CERTIFICATIONS

December 29th 2017

Microsoft Office 2013 | Microsoft

December 2014
.Net Programming | Punjab University College of Information Technology

LANGUAGES

Level of Proficiency (good, fair, poor)

Language Speaking Reading Writing
English Good Good Good
Urdu Good Good Good
Punjabi Good Good Good
Hindi Good Poor Poor

Extra-Curricular Activities

Jogging
Exploring new technologies