Our People
We believe that HBL Zarai’s fundamental vitality and strength lie in Our People
About Us
HBL Zarai Services Limited (HBL Zarai) is an integrated agricultural services platform established through the collaboration of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), a leading economic development organization and HBL, Pakistan’s leading financial institution. Our purpose is to strengthen Pakistan’s agricultural ecosystem by enabling sustainable growth, empowering farmers, and creating long-term value for rural communities and consumers across the country.
Our Purpose
‘Harvesting Farmers’ Dignity, Prosperity, and Hope’
Our purpose reflects our commitment to uplifting farming communities by improving livelihoods, strengthening food systems, and contributing towards a more sustainable and progressive future for Pakistan.
At HBL Zarai Services, we believe agriculture is not only a vital part of the economic sector but also the foundation of national prosperity, food security, rural development, and community well-being.
Our Corporate Values
Our values guide every decision, interaction, and service we provide across the agricultural ecosystem.
Building Pakistan’s Agricultural Ecosystem
Driven by a deep commitment to farmers and rural communities, HBL Zarai Services is building a connected agricultural ecosystem rooted in trust, transparency, innovation, and long-term value creation.
Through our integrated network of ‘Zarai Deras’, which serve as regional agricultural service hubs, ‘Zarai Dost Shops’, which help connect smaller villages and farming communities with agricultural support and services, along with qualified male & female field teams and strategic partners, we deliver accessible agricultural solutions and end to end support across the farming cycle.
We aim to bridge critical gaps across the agricultural value chain by integrating Free Precision Agronomy Services, Agri Inputs, Veterinary Services, Mechanization Services, Offtake & Mandi Services, Quality Assurance & Testing Services, Biomass & Sustainable Energy Services, Warehousing, and technology enabled solutions under one integrated platform.
What We Stand For
Our goal is to improve productivity, enhance operational efficiency, strengthen market linkages, and create long term value for farmers and communities across Pakistan, while promoting responsible farming practices that respect the land, enrich the soil, and contribute towards a healthier agricultural future.
At HBL Zarai, we envision a future where Pakistan’s agricultural sector is more productive, technology enabled, environmentally responsible, and globally competitive, creating dignity, prosperity, and hope for generations to come.
Meet Our Leadership
At HBL Zarai Services, the Board of Directors comprises a dynamic consortium of visionaries, each a luminary in their respective fields. This carefully curated team brings together agricultural innovators, financial strategists, technology pioneers, and development experts, offering a unique blend of global best practices and local insights. Their collective expertise spans decades and continents, united by a shared commitment to Pakistan’s agricultural renaissance.
We are not just reimagining agriculture; we’re cultivating a future where farming converges, technology and finance, create unprecedented value and prosperity across Pakistan’s rural landscape.
Salim Raza
Chairman
Zafar Ahmed Khan
Director
Iqrar Ahmad Khan
Director
Nassir Salim
Director
Amer Aziz
Director and CEO
Aamir Kureshi
Director
Jamal Nasir
Director
Sarwat Malik
Director
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Salim Raza
Chairman
Mr. Salim Raza joined the HBL Board in 2017. He has over 40 years of experience in the banking and financial sectors. He has held various positions at Citibank NA in Pakistan and abroad and has also held the position of Governor of the State Bank of Pakistan. He currently serves on the Boards of Karandaaz Pakistan, Manzil Pakistan, Indus Earth Trust, Habib University, the Layton Rahmatulla Benevolent Trust, Planet N Group of Companies, Nasra public School and is an adjunct professor at the Institute of Business Administration (IBA), Karachi for Political Economy.
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Zafar Ahmed Khan
Director
Zaffar A. Khan graduated as a Mechanical Engineer and soon thereafter joined Exxon which following an employee led buyout became known as Engro. He served the Company for 35 years the last 6 years were as the CEO. His career with Exxon included a decade of assignments in Hong Kong, USA and Singapore in the petrochemical division. Upon retirement from Engro he served as Chairman of PTCL, Karachi Stock Exchange & PIA. Currently, he is an Adjunct Professor at IBA where he teaches Human Resource Management.
He completed an Advanced Management Program from the University of Hawaii and has undertaken several short courses from the Harvard Business School & INSEAD.
Zaffar A. Khan has served on a number of diverse Boards in the Private Sector, Public Sector & Civil Society Organization. He has previously served on the Shell Pakistan Board for three terms which ended in 2017. Current Board appointments include Security Printing Corporation of Pakistan, Benazir Income Support Program, Data Check Ltd, Acumen Pakistan & Pakistan Centre for Philanthropy.
He is a recipient of Sitara e Imtiaz.
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Iqrar Ahmad Khan
Director
IQRAR AHMAD KHAN is a graduate of the University of Agriculture, Faisalabad and the University of California, Riverside-USA. He is a Distinguished National Professor. He has been serving as Vice Chancellor of the University of Agriculture, Faisalabad since 2008. He is a former Director/DG Nuclear Institute for Agriculture and Biology (NIAB) and Chief of Party U.S.-Pakistan Center for Advanced Studies in Agriculture and Food Security. He has supervised more than 100 MS/PhD students, secured 40 funded research projects, published 150 refereed publications, edited 50 books and proceedings, released 13 cultivars/varieties, and established new universities, sub-campuses, and several new centers and institutions. He drafted the Punjab Agriculture Policy in 2016 and a Strategic Agriculture Development Plan in 2024. He developed Agro Ecological Zones of the Punjab Province in collaboration with FAO, published in 2019. His academic and research work has benefitted disadvantaged communities and women. He is a Fellow of Pakistan Academy of Sciences, a recipient of Hilal-E-Imtiaz, Sitara-E-Imtiaz and Ordre des Palmes Académiques (French Government Civil Award-with the grade of Officer). He is the Chairman of Vice Chancellor’s Committee of the Higher Education Commission. He is a member of the Advisory Board of the Planning Commission of Pakistan. The Prime Minister has appointed him as a member of the Higher Education Commission for four years.
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Nassir Salim
Director
Mr. Muhammad Nassir Salim assumed the role of President & CEO – HBL in March 2024.
Nassir is a seasoned banker with 36 years of international and domestic banking experience; he has worked in the USA, Abu Dhabi and Pakistan with organizations like American Express Bank, Citigroup and Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank.
He has been associated with HBL since 2017. Nassir joined HBL as Head Global Operations and based on his contribution and capability was elevated to the position of Head Branch and Islamic Banking. His most recent role before assuming the President & CEO responsibility was the Chief Operating Officer of HBL.
Additionally, Nassir has held key positions such as Director at the Central Depository Company of Pakistan Limited and Chairman of the Board at HBL Currency Exchange, reflecting his commitment to contributing to Pakistan’s financial industry. Nassir holds an MBA in Finance from the Institute of Business Administration (IBA) Karachi, earning the Finance Gold Medal for his outstanding academic achievements. He is also a Fellow of the Institute of Bankers Pakistan (IBP).
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Amer Aziz
Director and CEO
Amer Aziz brings over three decades of comprehensive experience in banking, finance, and regulatory affairs to his role as CEO of HBL Zarai Services Limited. With a proven track record of leadership and strategic acumen, he has held key positions in prestigious organizations such as the State Bank of Pakistan and the National Institute of Banking and Finance.
Professional Highlights:
- CEO, HBL Zarai Services Limited
- Extensive experience at the State Bank of Pakistan, including roles as Managing Director and Executive Director
- Recognized for developing forensic accounting techniques and methodology, receiving the prestigious Tamgha-e-Imtiaz Presidential Civil Award in 2003
- Chartered Accountant with qualifications from the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Pakistan since 1992
Amer Aziz’s expertise, coupled with his commitment to excellence, plays a pivotal role in driving the success and growth of HBL Zarai Services Limited.
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Aamir Kureshi
Director
Aamir is a Member of the Executive Committee (ExCo) at HBL, Pakistan’s largest bank with responsibilities for Consumer, Agriculture and SME banking. He started his career with Bank of America in San Francisco and then moved to work with Citigroup and later with Standard Chartered in risk and consumer banking positions in London, Thailand & Pakistan. He has over 30 years of experience in leading businesses and risk management.
He has an undergraduate degree in Economics from Pepperdine University, California USA with an MBA from Institute of Business Administration, Pakistan.
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Jamal Nasir
Director
Jamal Nasir is the Chief Human Resources Officer at HBL. Pakistan’s largest commercial bank. He has over 35 years of professional experience.
Prior to joining HBL, Jamal has been with organizations like Exxon Chemical, ABN AMRO, Standard Chartered bank and United Bank Limited. He has worked in Pakistan and Internationally.
He is the current President for the Pakistan Society of Human Resource Management and is on the board of Governors for the Pakistan Society for Training and Development. He is also a Trustee of the HBL Foundation. Jamal Nasir is a BS in Electrical Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin and an MBA from the Institute of Business Administration, Karachi.
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Sarwat Malik
Director
Sarwat Malik is an agriculture professional with extensive experience in farm management, livestock, and sustainable agricultural development. She has participated in international agricultural research programs in China and California and currently serves as a Technical Advisor to the University of Agriculture Faisalabad. She is also a recipient of the Best Citrus Award from the Sargodha Research Institute for three consecutive years. Her expertise includes agri-finance, rural development, and agricultural policy.