He is driven by a vision to transform financial markets into an equitable market based system for all segments of population. His ultimate objective is achieving higher financial inclusion and poverty alleviation. Further, promoting Islamic Banking in the country is very close to his heart and he has been leading several key initiatives for its development.
Before joining the central bank, Saeed Ahmed had been appointed by the federal government the Chairman of the National Steering Committee on Islamic Finance. This apex forum is responsible for developing a road map for Islamic finance in the country. To meet the special skill requirements and develop human resources for an expanding Islamic Banking industry, he played a pivotal role in the establishment of three Centers of Excellence in Islamic Finance in three leading universities of the country. He also chairs the Co-ordination Committee for Centers of Excellence for Islamic Finance Education.
With a focus on smooth flow of financial services to priority sectors including agriculture, microfinance, SMEs, low cost housing, Saeed Ahmad has played a key role in developing a number of innovative market instruments.
As Deputy Governor, Saeed leads, or contributes as member, several committees playing key role in decision making in the bank. He chairs the Banking Policy Committee, Investment Committee of the Management, Management Committee on Information Technology and Payment Systems Policy Committee and sits on the Monetary Policy and Monetary Operations Committees.
Saeed Ahmed also represents SBP in various national institutions. He is the Chairman of the Boards of Directors of House Building Finance Corporation Ltd (HBFCL), Pakistan Mortgage Refinance Company and EXIM Bank. He is a member of Boards of Directors of Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP), State Life Insurance Corporation (SLIC) and Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited (ZTBL). Moreover, he is a member of the Board of Governors as well as Board of Trustees of Pakistan Kidney and Liver Institute and Research Center, Lahore, Punjab.
Saeed Ahmad also chairs SAARC Payments Council, which is an international forum of SAARC countries to share experiences on payment systems. Saeed Ahmad has extensive commercial & investment banking and management experience. He started his career with Prudential Corporation, London and qualified as a fellow of Institute of Actuaries, London. He has served Chase Manhattan Bank/ SIBC Riyadh in corporate finance and as Head of Corporate Finance and International in Kuwait Asia Bank, Bahrain. As Head of Treasury, Credit and Marketing of Bahrain Branch of Paris based Union de Banques Arabes et Francaise (UBAF), a subsidiary of Credit Lyonnais, Paris, Saeed has served for several years. He had also been associated with Faysal Islamic Bank of Bahrain-Manama, Bahrain.
Saeed Ahmad has also worked in the corporate sector at senior executive positions such as Vice President Finance & Chief Financial Officer (CFO) at the biggest Saudi multinational group in Jeddah. He had also been heading a Group of companies in England. In addition to his professional qualification as a Fellow of the Institute of Actuaries, London, Saeed Ahmad holds a Masters Degree in Economics (specializing in Finance & Accounting) from the London School of Economics (LSE) and BSc (Hons) from Punjab University, Lahore. He also attended Senior Management Program of Harvard Business School at Boston, USA.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2017