Advisors & Resource Persons
Baela Raza Jamil
Baela Raza Jamil, the 2024 Asia Education Medalist by T4 Education, founder and CEO of Idara-e-Taleem-o-Aagahi, is also the founder of the Children’s and Teachers’ Literature Festivals
Rumana Husain
Rumana Husain Rumana Husain is a bilingual writer, educator, and artist. She has been a teacher at the Karachi Grammar School, Indus Valley School of Art & Architecture, and the CAS School, which she also headed.
Ameena Saiyid
Ameena Saiyid Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres, Sitara-e-Imtiaz, OBE is the Managing Director of Lightstone Publishers and Founding Director of Adab Festival. She has been MD of Oxford University Press
Fauzia Minallah
Fauzia Minallah is a prominent and a well known artist, author, photographer, environmentalist activist and a political cartoonist based in Islamabad. She is also the founder of Funkor Child Art Center.
Sadia Sarmad
I’m a storyteller with a team of volunteers with the motto of focusing on the Urdu language, teaching ethics through stories, and bringing smiles to the ones who deserve it the most.
Sarwat Mohiuddin
Sarwat Mohiuddin is a distinguished Pakistani poet, translator, painter, and prose writer, widely recognised for her contributions to Punjabi, Urdu, and English languages. With a Master’s degree in Punjabi literature
Peter Jacob
Peter Jacob studied Law, Rural Development and Political Science. He has been part of several studies and researches including; 'Working Conditions of Agricultural Labour in Punjab' Published 2001,
Atif Badar
PLF Ambassador Atif Badar is a masterful and versatile thespian, educator, theatre director, acting coach, drama therapist, storyteller, and children’s writer, with a deep passion for literature and theatre.
Muhammad Bilal Akram - Director (Admn & Finance)
With an experience spanning over more than 26 years of service, Mr. Muhammad Bilal Akram is a BS- 20 office presently serving as Director ADMN and Finance, CSA. He has also headed Mid- career Management Wing at PAS campus and under him 9 Domain Specific Mid/Career trainings for the officers of PAS were successfully conducted.
He has also served at various significant positions including, Control Local Audit (Defence Services of Pakistan), Director External Audit, Defence Services of Pakistan and Director Audit Federal Govt. Prior to joining Pakistan Audit and Account Service in 2005 he had also served for 6 years in Government of the Punjab for 6 years as Ex-PCS officer on various executive & Judicial positions including Extra Assistant Commissioner and Special Judicial Magistrate.
He has been declared Master Trainer by department of the Auditor General of Pakistan for Performance Audit, Software of ACL and Financial crime management. He has contributed in development of various manuals and has imparted international training at General Audit Bureau, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, China, Cambodia and Central Asia.
He did his Diploma in Financial Crime Management from CIPFA, UK, certification in Audit command Language (ACL) from UAE facility of ACL Canada. He also did International certification in Performance Auditing.
He did his masters in Political Science with specialization in International Relations and then MBA (Finance) from University of the Punjab.
Narmeen Hamid
Public Health Specialist, Medical Doctor, First Chairperson ITA, a music student, lifelong learner, and brand new grandmother will be joining us this Pakistan Learning Festival
Abuzar Madhu
Abuzar Madhu is a Lahore-based performing artist, social activist, and researcher whose work intertwines art with activism. With an MPhil in Cultural Studies from the National College of Arts, Madhu’s practice centers on decolonizing research methods, the body, and ways of learning, reclaiming narratives through local wisdom, language, and indigenous knowledge. A founding member of the “Ravi Bachao Tehreek” (Save Ravi Movement), Madhu is deeply engaged in ongoing activism for the preservation and rights of the Ravi River, bringing a unique voice to the intersections of social and environmental justice. As a contributing artist in the Lahore Biennale Chapter 03, Madhu continues to use art as a platform for ecological consciousness, reconnecting communities to their cultural and natural heritage.
Abdullah Ali
Ali Raza
How can we tell stories to children with liveliness, fun and, play? Join us in an enthusiastic storytelling session led by Ali Raza where stories and characters come alive.
Ali Raza is a communication and PLF coordinator at the Pakistan Literacy Project and a prolific theater artist. With a strong commitment to promoting literacy and a passion for libraries, book reading, and storytelling, he is on a mission to ignite a lifelong love of learning in young minds.
Amber Taseer
Amber Taseer is a sociologist and arts educator with expertise in origami, painting, drawing, and handcraft. She promotes sustainable creativity by transforming recyclable materials into meaningful art projects. Passionate about sharing new techniques, she uses arts and crafts to support children’s emotional, social, and cognitive development.
She works to create safe, expressive spaces where creativity builds confidence and self-expression.
Guiding belief: “Every fold, brushstroke, and craft helps a child unfold their story.”
Aqsa Aslam
Aqsa is a Senior Visualizer at Samaa TV with more than a decade of experience in the creative industry. She has completed my Bachelor’s and M.Phil in Graphic Design, and my work focuses on visual storytelling, design, and illustration across digital and media platforms.
In addition to her professional work, she actively practices as a cartoonist and illustrator. Currently developing her independent project, “Aqsa Sayapa,” which she aims to launch soon. Through this project, she seeks to highlight and express the everyday challenges faced by girls in our society, using art as a voice for awareness and connection.
Arooj Khalid
Arooj Khalid is a girls’ education activist. She completed her Master’s in Education Policy from Harvard University and works to improve access to and quality of education for marginalized groups at Idara-e-Taleem-o-Aagahi. She is also a Fulbright Scholar and an Acumen and Malala Fund Fellow. Arooj is a member of the Advisory Council at Science Fuse, and the Board of Directors at Youth Journalism International, a US-based NGO that trains young people around the world on journalism and leadership. Previously, she has represented Pakistan’s education sector on intergovernmental platforms, impacting thousands of children through her work with the Malala Fund, UNESCO IIEP, UNICEF, TCF, and the U.S. Department of State.
Asavir Nadeem
Asavir Nadeem is a multidisciplinary artist, curator, and educator. She has experience working in museums and galleries, as well as teaching art to middle school students. Asavir is dedicated to making art accessible and engaging through interactive, research-based activities and simplifying complex ideas into easily understandable materials.
Asiya Mughal
Asiya Mughal is a development professional and communication expert with extensive experience in social mobilization and gender-based violence (GBV). She has led several high-impact communication campaigns, along with community-based initiatives, capacity-building trainings, and entrepreneurship programs, with a strong focus on women’s empowerment and workforce readiness. An alumna of international programs such as IVLP and AWE, she has also completed executive leadership training at the University of Queensland.
Ayza Ali
Ayza Ali is a Program Officer at Mahwari Justice with a degree in Environmental Sciences from the University of the Punjab. She has worked with organisations like Bargad and Amal Academy, focusing on youth development and community education. Her efforts aim to create safe learning spaces through sessions on menstrual health, leadership, and social awareness. She values creative expression and storytelling as means to break stigma and foster open discussions.
Bushra Mahnoor
Bushra Mahnoor is a gender practitioner and runs Mahwari Justice, an organisation that uses art to break the silence around menstruation. Her work involves creating comics, raps, and cartoons that help children learn about their bodies without shame or fear. She has engaged 2,500+ children across Pakistan and is currently pioneering disability-inclusive menstrual health resources in Braille and Sign Language.
Fareeha Hashmi
Fareeha Hashmi is an interdisciplinary researcher and oral historian with a special focus on natural heritage, river landscapes and 1947 Partition archives. Her work intersects art, culture, heritage and literature. Her research explores the critical nuances of intergenerational memory and trauma with a focus on natural heritage, material memory, space and place-making amongst survivors of violent ruptures of climate change. Currently, she is curating Readings, Pakistan.
Fatima Jaffar
Fatima Jaffar is a senior managaer at ITACEC, dedicated human rights activist and psychologist with over 19 years of experience in the social sector. She is an alumna of IVLP and AWE programs. Her work primarily focuses on child protection, supporting survivors of gender-based violence, and promoting girls’ education to empower them and build their confidence to overcome societal challenge, particularly those related to menstruation. As an expert trainer in Menstrual Health & Dignity, Life Skills-Based Education, and child development, she is currently leading initiatives like Policy advocacy on removing Pink Tax and to raise awareness about reproductive health among school girls, communities, and key stakeholders in ragrds to humanitarian ground.
Fatima Yasin
Fatima Yaseen is an MPhil scholar in Sociology and a committed social activist. She works on key social themes, including Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM), Gender-Based Violence, SRHR, and climate issues. For the past five months, she has been serving as a MEL Officer at Idara-e-Taleem-o-Aagahi (ITA), supporting the PYLI, Fòs Feminista, and PALs projects. She is passionate about community engagement, youth empowerment, and evidence-based advocacy. Fatima strives to contribute to a more inclusive, equitable, and informed society through her academic and field-based efforts.
Fizza Shahid
Ms. Fizza Shahid is an officer of Office Management Group of 42nd Common Training Programme. She holds a Master’s degree in Public Policy from Centre of Public Policy & Governance. She has had a broad range of experience, having worked at the Federal Secretariat at Capital Administration & Development Division, Revenue Division, and Economic Affairs Division respectively. She joined Civil Services Academy in 2021 as Deputy Director (PAS) at PAS Campus.
Hafsa Tauqir
Hafsa Tauqir is a Project Officer at Science Fuse with a background in molecular biology. Her work focuses on making science inclusive, culturally grounded, and accessible so that everyone can recognise science as something they can engage with in their everyday lives and feel a sense of belonging within it. At Science Fuse, she contributes to the design and delivery of programmes that support equitable engagement with STEM among children and diverse learning communities.
Iqra Farooq
Oxford University Press
Iqra Farooq is currently working as the Regional Professional Development Coordinator Oxford University Press, Pakistan. Has more then ten years of experience training thousands of teachers, Master trainers and Educational Managers across Pakistan under different educational projects and as a Training Consultant for the British Council. Has an MS in Psychology and is certified in CLIL and Material Development from Norwich Institute of Language and Education, UK.
Junaid Vohra
Junaid aka The Leather Dude focuses on material literacy through STEAM centred activities with leather. A globally recognized innovative thinker whose works have been featured at world’s leading toy fair Spielwarenmesse. Junaid has initiated a concept Of “Leather Diplomacy” through a patriotic dart game in honour of Pakistans historic dominance in skies in summer of 2025.
Kanwal Khoosat
Kanwal Khoosat is a filmmaker, theatre practitioner, and the founder of Olomopolo Media, a cultural space in Lahore dedicated to storytelling and creative expression. She works across theatre, film, and community-based arts, creating spaces where children and young people can explore imagination, build confidence, and express themselves through stories and performance.
Maryam Shahzadi
Creative content writer at Samaa TV, a storyteller and a storybook illustrator. Love turning simple ideas into meaningful stories through both words and visuals.
Maydda Nabeel
Momina Farooq Khan
A classical Kathak dancer and a teacher. She completed her postgraduate studies
from SOAS in South Asian Studies (Intensive) – her thesis explored the
trajectory of classical dance within Pakistan, focusing on Lahore. Currently,
she is teaching Classical dance at different institutions.
Munazza Gillani
Munazza Gillani is currently the Director for Pakistan and the Middle East at Sightsavers, a leading international organization focused on preventing avoidable blindness and promoting disability inclusion. She has over two decades of experience in social development, program management, and disability and gender inclusive development.
Holding postgraduate degrees in Bio-Engineering and Public Health, she has expertise in strategic planning, advocacy, research, and systems strengthening across health, education, and social protection sectors. Under her leadership, Sightsavers has spearheaded major initiatives such as eliminating trachoma in Pakistan, expanded inclusive education programs, influenced major initiatives for disability inclusive data collection in national surveys and strengthened primary eye care delivery through its integration within primary health care system.
Munazza is widely recognized for advancing the rights of women and persons with disabilities, promoting inclusive policies, and leading research-based advocacy. She serves on several national and regional boards and government’s advisory committees related to public health, disability inclusion, and gender equality. She represents Sightsavers at global policy forums and her work engages high-level government offices, bilateral and multilateral partners, and global stakeholders.
Mina Javed
Noor Tahir Mir
An early childhood educationist and former fashion designer who loves working with children through art. I’ve taught art to young learners and conducted art therapy sessions for children with special educational needs.
Rai Mohsin Raza
Rai Mohsin Raza is an educationist, science communicator, and passionate advocate of experiential learning. He is the Founder of Islah – Institute of Schools Reform, where he works to transform low-cost private schools through innovative teaching practices, teacher training, and community engagement.
He is also the author of the Punjabi STEM book “سائنسی کھیڈاں کھڈونے”, promoting science learning in the mother tongue through play and creativity. His work focuses on making science accessible, engaging, and meaningful for children through hands-on, low-cost learning approaches in local languages.
Sana Afzal
Advocate Sana Afzal, a distinguished Advocate of the High Court, is dedicated to the cause of women and child rights. As the former Chairperson of the Human Rights Committee at the High Court, she has actively fought for the eviction of child abuse in various legal forums. Advocate Afzal’s commitment extends beyond the courtroom, as she engages in meaningful interactions with children and collaborates with influential organizations such as WHO and UNICEF to promote children’s health and women’s rights. Her multifaceted approach reflects a profound commitment to fostering positive change in the sphere of human rights, particularly for vulnerable populations.
Sana Zulqarnain
Shayan Moazzam
Shayan Moazzam is the Project Officer at Science Fuse, and Shayan holds an MPhil in Biotechnology. Her experiences with the education system have motivated her to make science approachable for all. At Science Fuse, she leads our STEM Educational programs, designs curriculum & mentors fellows.
Shoib Mirza
Shoib Mirza is the editor of children magazine, Phool since 24 years and chairman academy adbiyate-atfal. He has been awarded 4 gold medals and lots of literary awards with cash prizes. He is the books ambassador of National Book Foundation (NBF) and the organizer of yearly writer’s conference, seminars on children’s literature and author of many books.
Tooba Urooj
Tooba Urooj is a youth advocate and researcher working at the intersection of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR), gender equality, and climate justice. She is currently working as a Project Officer at Forum for Dignity Initiatives (fdi), where she advances menstrual health and dignity-centered care for women through community programming, stakeholder engagement, and policy advocacy. She has also authored research papers and articles on human rights, gender-based violence, and climate-induced migration.
Uswa Maryam
Uswa Maryam is a writer, educator, and community practitioner. She is the founder of The Dost Initiative and has been a part of multiple youth-centered programs. Uswa is a facilitator for the creative workshops, storytelling sessions, and a safe learning space for children with Kitab Gari at ITACEC. With a background in law and extensive experience in content development and social impact projects, her work focuses on building empathetic, inclusive, and imaginative learning environments for children and young people.
Uzma Mushtaq
Passionate educationist, working for last 20 years in various spectrum of education sector, ECE specialist story teller , poem writer and singer , enjoy happy and constructive activities with children
Dr. Uzma Niaz
Dr. Uzma Niaz is Pakistan’s first virtual storyteller. With over 250+ free recordings available on her YouTube channel, she’s committed to advancing creativity, curiosity, imagination and language acquisition through the power of stories.
She is also an influential English Language and Literature teacher, having taught at schools including Lahore Grammar for over 30 years. She currently offers home-based and online tuitions to students grade 5 and above, with a special focus on O levels / GCSEs.
https://www.youtube.com/@storieswithuzma878
Waqas Nasir
Waqas Nasir is a science communicator and head of outreach at Science Fuse, where he leads outreach, partnerships, and the design and execution of hands-on STEM experiences for diverse communities. His work focuses on making science accessible, engaging, and inclusive, especially for children and educators who have limited exposure to interactive learning.
Dr Zainab
Dr Zainab is a gender-climate and SRHR activist. She is founder of a youth collective Saheli, that is working to bring women back in data, decision and design. Currently she is leading development of a youth-led Gender Action Plan for climate change through storytelling lens.
Zohra Shadab
Zohra Shadab is a dedicated and experienced education professional with over 14 years of expertise in early childhood education, specializing in Montessori teaching and curriculum development. She has served in key teaching roles, including Homeroom Teacher at Adabistan-e-Soophia School (July 2024 – April 2025), Pre-School Teacher (Early Years Stage-1) at Army Public School & College (May 2023 – November 2023), and Pre-School Teacher at Adabistan-e-Soophia School (December 2010 – April 2023). Throughout her career, she has gained extensive experience in classroom management, ECCE curriculum planning, staff collaboration, and effective parent communication. Academically, she holds an MPhil in Education (2022–2024) from University of the Punjab, an ECCE Montessori Diploma (Age 3–6) (2020–2021) from Pakistan Montessori Council, an MA/M.Ed. in Education (2013–2015) from Allama Iqbal Open University, a BA in Social Sciences (2009–2011) from University of the Punjab, along with ICS from Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education Lahore and Matriculation from Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education Lahore. Her strong academic background and extensive practical teaching experience reflect her deep commitment to nurturing young learners and contributing meaningfully to the field of education.
For Further Information, Please Contact
Waqas Hameed Bajwa
Deputy Director Communication and Partnerships
Punjab | North | ICT
Tel: 0518748441
waqas@itacec.org | info@itacec.org
Pakistan Learning Festival is a social movement founded by the renowned educator-thought leader and activist, Baela Raza Jamil CEO of Idara-e-Taleem-o-Aagahi (ITA) and co-founded by the internationally and nationally awarded Ameena Saiyid, who headed a multinational corporation and pioneered ‘literature festivals’ in Pakistan; she is the Founder Director of the Adab Festival Pakistan. CLF’s growth is attributed to its open collaboration with numerous private, public, civil society organizations, foundations and development partners. CLF is the first national level largest learning festival with an outreach across Pakistan; it is ITA’s well known flagship program.
