Mr. Shad Muhammad is a highly experienced professional in agribusiness and rural development, with over three decades of expertise in managing projects related to agricultural economics, natural resource management, and rural infrastructure. He holds an M.Sc. (Hons) in Agricultural Economics from the Agriculture University Peshawar and a Director’s Certification Program from the University of Lahore. Currently, he serves as the Chief Executive Officer at the Agribusiness Support Fund (ASF), where he oversees the USD 20 million IFAD-funded Value Chain component of the Economic Transformation Initiative Project in Gilgit-Baltistan. Mr. Shad has a proven track record of fostering collaborations with private sector agribusiness enterprises, facilitating market access for exporters, and designing strategies to drive growth in the agribusiness sector. His leadership extends beyond ASF, as he has been a Board Member at LASOONA RELIEF AND DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION since 2012.

Mr. Shad’s professional journey encompasses significant roles within various prominent organizations, including his tenure as Chief of Party at ASF, where he successfully guided the program’s direction and management in coordination with USAID-Pakistan. He has contributed to notable projects, such as the IFAD-funded “Badp-II” project, where he managed natural resource management and rural development activities. Additionally, he has played a pivotal role in designing and evaluating agriculture-based studies and policies for organizations like the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and USAID. Furthermore, he has provided consultancy services in developing agricultural strategies, preparing project reports, and creating business plans for USAID-funded initiatives. His extensive experience has made him a distinguished leader in the fields of agribusiness development, rural governance, and agriculture economics.