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Muhammad Mushtaq Ibrahim Soomro – An urban town planner, architect, expert in building laws, a historian
KARACHI: Born into a prominent agriculturist and business family on June 5, 1972, Muhammad Mushtaq Ibrahim Soomro hails from Shah Panjo Sultan, a small village in Mehar taluka, district Dadu. Mushtaq’s father, Muhammad Ibrahim Soomro was a senior bureaucrat who served the Sindh Government for decades. He has three brothers and two sisters, all highly educated and well settled.
Mushtaq received his primary education from the renowned NJV School. He completed his matriculation with A-grade from Abbasi Academy, Bahadurabad, affiliated with the Board of Secondary Education Karachi (BSEK) in 1987.
He then moved to Hyderabad, where he completed his intermediate education with another A-grade from the prestigious Public School Hyderabad under the Board of Intermediate Education Hyderabad in 1989. He was a bright student known for his active participation in extracurricular activities, Mushtaq won several awards for his writing skills.

With a vision to pursue a distinctive career, Mushtaq secured admission to Pakistan’s premier engineering university, Mehran University of Engineering and Technology, Jamshoro, graduating with a Bachelor of Architecture (B.Arch) in 1996, once again achieving 2nd position.
Upon completing his university education, he was offered a lecturer position at Mehran University of Engineering and Technology, Jamshoro. Simultaneously, Mushtaq cleared a competitive selection process and joined the then Karachi Building Control Authority as Assistant Controller of Buildings (BS-17) in 1998, an autonomous body under the administrative control of the Local Government and Housing Town Planning Department.
Initially posted at Circle D, Mushtaq later served in the Design Section and gained field experience in building rules and regulations for five years. In 2003, he was appointed officiating deputy director. In 2011, with the formation of the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA), Mushtaq served as Deputy Director in various regions, including Larkana. He held positions such as Deputy Director Gulshan Town-I, Deputy Director Saddar Town-II, and Deputy Director Gulshan Town-II.

Finally promoted to BS-18 in 2014, Mushtaq served as Regional Director for the Larkana Region and Deputy Director (Coordination), SBCA HQ, Karachi. During this period, he also pursued and completed his semesters of Masters in Regional & City Planning from Mehran University of Engineering and Technology (MUET), pending thesis submission due to official commitments.
In 2019, he was promoted to BS-19 and firstly posted as Director of Research and Regulations. Recognised for his integrity and dedication, Mushtaq has held multiple roles in BS-19, including Director Administration, Maintenance, Research and Regulations, Procurement, Finance and Accounts and Licensing and Records.
In October 2022, owing to his expertise in legal matters, building bylaws, and urban town planning, his services were retained by the Local Government and Housing Town Planning Department, Government of Sindh, where he undertook several special assignments.
Following a brief stint, Having Diploma in Leadership & Management and Finance & Accounts, Mushtaq Soomro returned to SBCA in September 2023 as Director Administration and Finance, HQ, and Regional Director for the Hyderabad Region. Presently, he is performing duties as Transition Officer (industries) in the SBCA, assisting in formulating rules and regulations for the industrial sector alongside his primary role as Director Administration and Finance having office at SBCA HQ Karachi.

Mushtaq has had an impressive array of service credentials at SBCA, including serving as SBCA’s Focal Person and liaison officer for the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) for many years. He has been member of the committee notified for the draft Service regulations of SBCA. He has also been the Coordinator and Head of the SBCA Reforms Committee, instrumental in introducing the stage-wise ‘Single Window (paper-less) Facility’ for online processing of construction permits under the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business Programme.
Mushtaq has also been a Member of the Standing Committee on Karachi Building and Town Planning Regulations (KB&TPR) and has played a pivotal role as Focal Person and Member of the team of technical draftsmen for the legislation and framework of the newly formed Sindh Master Plan Authority. His contributions also include technical drafting of the Sindh High Density Development Board Rules and serving as the Focal Person for the National Coordination Committee on Housing, Construction, and Development (NCCHCD) / Prime Minister’s Naya Pakistan Housing & Development Authority.
Additionally, he has chaired the Committee on One Window Operations at Khairpur Special Economic Zone (KSEZ) in alignment with the SBCO / KB&TPR, based on proposals from the Investment Department, Government of Sindh. He has been also member of the technical committee assigned the task to prepare energy conservation building code of Pakistan by National Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority.
Additionally, he has been key member of the committee who drafted the Regional building and town planning regulations for the other regions of SBCA except Karachi. He is also visiting faculty member at Pakistan Institute of Management. In the face of challenges, Mushtaq has proven to be an impediment for the old guard with his unwavering commitment to excellence. Despite facing continuous pressures and defamation attempts, he has consistently demonstrated steadfast dedication in carrying out his official duties.
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Syed Hasan Askari – An evolution expert, a civil engineer, a lawyer, sportsman, humbled person
KARACHI: Opening his eyes in the well-educated and well-off family, Syed Hasan Askari son of SM Askari was born in Karachi’s Gulshan-e-Iqbal area on January 15, 1966. His father SM Askari was a senior government officer who had served the Civil Aviation Authority (formerly Airport Development Authority) as Director Finance.
Mr Hasan Askari has four brothers and a sister and all of them are highly qualified and outshined in their careers.
Hasan Askari received his primary and secondary education from Karachi’s prominent educational institution – Habib Public School -. He passed his matriculation from the Board of Secondary Education (BSEK) in 1981. He clinched A-grade.

He passed his intermediate from the well-reputed and historic institution – D J Sindh Government College -, affiliated with the Board of Intermediate Education Karachi (BIEK) in 1983. Yet again, he grabbed A-grade.
Apart from academics, Hasan Askari was an extraordinary student too who always took active part in extracurricular activities like playing sports, debate competition etc.
Mr Askari had qualified for the admission in the Pakistan’s well-reputed and prominent engineering varsity – NED University of Engineering and Technology – from where he passed Bachelors of Engineering (B.E) in Civil in 1989. Like his earlier academic achievements, he again outshined and grabbed First Division.

With an engineering degree in hand, Syed Hasan Askari had joined the ECIL Consulting Services, an engineering firm, who was tasked to construct Karachi – Hyderabad Dual Carriageway in 1992. He had also briefly served at the Naval Dockyard as an Engineer.
In 1992, Hasan Askari joined the Schon Group as Civil Engineer where he had served with utmost dedication and honesty. In the meantime, he also appeared in the most competitive and toughest examination held by the Sindh Public Service Commission (SPSC) that he had qualified with flying colours.
In 1993, Syed Hasan Askari joined the Education and Literacy Department, Government of Sindh as Assistant Executive Engineer (AEN) BS-17. He had served as AEN in Karachi’s West and South districts for a longer period of time.

Particularly in district South, he is the man who had introduced rehabilitation and restoration of historic educational buildings including NJV, DJ Science College and many others.
On the sidelines of the shining job career, Mr Hasan Askari also completed his LLB from the SM Law College. He also passed his Masters of Business Administration (MBA).
In 2013-14, Mr Hasan was promoted to the post of Executive Engineer (XEN) BS-18. He devotedly served in Korangi, East districts and Bin Qasim areas where the condition of the government schools are far better than the rest if compared.

In 2021, he was promoted to the post of Superintending Engineer (SE) BS-19. He briefly served in Mirpurkhas district and later he was posted in Karachi where he had served in Karachi’s Central, South, West and Keamari districts. He was awarded as the Best Superintending Engineer of Sindh.

With his outstanding performance aimed at improving infrastructure of the government schools, Hasan Askari was promoted to the post of Chief Engineer (BS-20) in July 2024. Presently, Syed Hasan Askari is working as Chief Engineer, Education Works Karachi, Education and Literacy Department, Government of Sindh.
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Rafia Javed’s journey from a village girl to an educationist, promoter for girls’ education
KARACHI: With cuteness on face, bold and attractive personality, Rafia Javed daughter of Nazar Hussain was born on july 15, 1975 at Sita Nandhi a village near district Dadu. Her family had a prominent background in the area and her father was a government employee who worked at the local court.
Rafia Javed has two sisters and two brothers and all of them are highly educated and well-settled.
With limited resources, Rafia received her early education from the Seeta Nandhi Primary School while she received primary education from the Seeta Road High School. She passed her matriculation from the Board of Secondary Education Hyderabad in 1990. She clinched A-grade.
Rafia had to walk three to four kilometer daily to attend school which is the point that led her to be strong and study hard to be an extraordinary student.

Rafia did her intermediate from the Government Girls College, Dadu, affiliated with the Board of Intermediate Education Hyderabad in 1992. Yet again she grabbed A-grade in intermediate examinations. She also started teaching at her school to promote girls’ education.
Since childhood, Rafia remained a girl with helping nature who always had helped his colleagues, helped them in their studies. She also took active part in literary activities and debate competitions in school and college.
With an aim to do something extraordinary in life and achieve success where she can contribute to the society, Rafia Javed got admission in the Sindh’s premier education institution – University of Sindh – from where she completed Bachelors of Arts (BA) in English Literature. She also did her Masters of Arts (MA) in English Literature. Again, she outshined in the university.

On the sidelines of her studies, Rafia used to arrange workshops and seminars for the university. She also wrote articles for regional newspapers on different topics particularly girls’ education. Apart from her university education, she had also worked as Sub-Editor with Ibrat Magazine.
In 2001, Rafia Javed had passed the examination held by the Sindh Public Service Commission (SPSC) and she choose to join the Education and Literacy Department, Government of Sindh.
Firstly, Rafia had served as Lecturer BS-17 who taught English at various colleges. Then she was posted as Assistant Director in the Education and Literacy Department where she had served with utmost honesty and dedication.

Rafia had also served as Deputy Secretary in the Universities and Boards Department, Government of Sindh for couple of years.
She had also served as Controller of the Board of Secondary Education Karachi (BSEK) where she outperformed and brought major administrative and curriculum changes to ensure best quality of education for the students of the metropolis.
With her devotion and expertise in education sector, Rafia Javed was posted as Registrar, Directorate of Inspection & Registration of Private Institutions Sindh for couple of years. After her promotion to the next higher grade, Rafia has been working as Additional Director at the Directorate of Inspection & Registration of Private Institutions Sindh till date.
Rafia Javed is a notable figure in the field of education in Sindh, Pakistan. She is recognized for her contribution to education reform, advocacy for girls’ education, and her efforts to improve the quality of education in rural and underprivileged areas of Sindh.
She has been a strong advocate for girls’ education, particularly in rural Sindh where cultural and socioeconomic barriers often limit access to schooling for girls. She has worked on initiative to improve teacher training and professional development, ensuring that educators are better equipped to deliver quality education.

Rafia has emphasized the importance of community involvement in education, working to engage parents and local leaders in supporting schools and educational programs due to it she has established two libraries one at Sita Road and another at Khan Pur. Her work has also extended to influencing education policies at the provincial level, aiming to create systemic changes that benefit students across Sindh.
Rafia’s efforts are part of a broader movement to address these issues and create a more equitable and effective education system in the region.
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Arshad Hussain Bhutto – An engineer, development expert, sportsman, humbled person
KARACHI: Opening his eyes in the well-educated and well-settled family, Arshad Hussain Bhutto son of Muhammad Hussain Bhutto (late) was born on February 29, 1968 at Hyderabad, the second largest city of Sindh province. His father was a Professor by profession who was associated with the Education and Literacy Department, Government of Sindh.
Arshad Hussain Bhutto has two brothers and two sisters and all of them are well-educated and well-settled.
Mr Arshad received his primary education from the Model School, Old Campus in 1973. He passed his matriculation from the Board of Secondary Education Hyderabad in year 1983. He clinched A-grade in the matriculation.

He completed his intermediate from the Board of Intermediate Education Hyderabad in 1985. Yet again he passed his intermediate with flying colours.
Arshad Bhutto was an outstanding students in his studies who always took active part in debate and writing competitions. He also won several medals for his extraordinary skills.
Besides, Arshad also played cricket and football in his school and college level and represented cricket and football teams at different districts.
While finishing his intermediate, Arshad Hussain qualified the selection process and got admission in the premier engineering university of the Sindh province – Mehran University of Engineering and Technology (MUET) Jamshoro – from where he passed his B.E (Civil) in 1991. He grabbed First Class in the university.
Mr Arshad always wanted to prove himself as the meritorious student and true and hardworking son of honest father who tasked him just to focus on studies and made them feel proud in the field of education.

With distinctive engineering degree, Arshad Bhutto appeared in the most competitive examination held by the Sindh Public Service Commission (SPSC) in 1992 in which he had qualified for the post of Assistant Executive Engineer (AEN) BS-17, Works and Services Department, Government of Sindh.
While serving the people of the province by ensuring best quality services, Mr Bhutto had served as AEN in different districts till 2012. He was then promoted to the post of Executive Engineer (XEN) BS-18 and served in various districts of the province until 2018. Arshad Bhutto was then promoted to the post of Superintendent Engineer (SE) BS-19 in 2018.
In 2023, Arshad Bhutto was promoted to the post of Chief Engineer (BS-20) and posted as Chief Engineer, Buildings Division Karachi. Mr Arshad has worked with utmost dedication, honesty and sincerity in various districts including Tando Muhammad Khan, Badin, Hala, Jacobabad, Matiyari, Karachi etc.
