User:Srkhurram

Aftab Ahmad Ch. or Aftab Ahmad Chaudree (آفتاب احمد چوھدری) is a capital market professional who is associated with the market of Pakistan since 2002. Aftab is the Managing Director/CEO of Lahore Stock Exchange Limited. Aftab is also serving as the regular Secretary General of the South Asian Federation of Exchanges (SAFE), which is the industry association of the stock and commodity exchanges of the South Asian region. Besides this, Aftab is also a member of the working committee of the Federation of Euro Asian Stock Exchanges (FEAS). In addition, Aftab is also serving as a director of the National Clearing Corporation of Pakistan Limited (NCCPL) and Pakistan Credit Rating Agency (PACRA).

Aftab has extensive capital market experience in the areas of regulatory oversight, enforcement, market operations and the management of stock exchanges. During the earlier capital market assignments, Aftab served as the COO/CEO Designate of an Asset Management Company in Pakistan as well as the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Islamabad Stock Exchange, Pakistan. Aftab has also worked on an advisory/consulting assignment with Capital Market Development Authority (CMDA) of Maldives relating to the privatization of the Maldives Stock Exchange besides working on the development of demutualization plan for the Chittagong Stock Exchange, Bangladesh. Aftab has also worked as a professional financial consultant/advisor for various projects related to capital markets and infrastructure/corporate finance etc. Aftab has also been involved with the Board level work related to the regulatory system, product development and operationalization of the only commodity exchange in Pakistan. Aftab has also served on the Board of Directors of other capital market institutions in Pakistan such as M/s JCR-VIS-a leading independent corporate credit rating agency, the Institute of Capital Markets (ICM) and Pakistan Institute of Corporate Governance (PICG).

Aftab has been involved in many capital markets related new initiatives in his native country which focused on market development/consolidation, market outreach/expansion and introduction of new products. Some of the projects which he has led are: the conceptualization and implementation of Unified Trading System between two of the three stock exchanges (which required in-depth regulatory synchronization, technology deployment and trading software modernization); the establishment of a Spot Commodity Trading Eco-System Project (for automating the physical commodity centers and accredited warehousing facilities to provide post harvest financing to the farmers), Liquidity Network Project (a smart order routing system between intermediaries of different exchanges); introduction of Investor Relations functions within the listed sector and the launch of the first nationwide financial literacy initiative in Pakistan. At the SAFE platform, Aftab has been the main driving force in bringing SAFE to its current level of recognition and progress. Aftab has vigorously pursued the objectives of cross border investments, regulatory harmonization, and development/launch of SAFE-Dow Jones index and start of domestic funds linked to its country sub indices in Pakistan and Mauritius. Aftab is also spearheading the project of the regional financial integration within South Asia under the grant to SAFE from the US Agency for International Development (USAID).

Aftab has about 26 years of progressive job experience of varying responsibilities in a variety of assignments related to logistics/supply chain/strategic/asset/financial/project/budgetary and treasury management functions at different entities both within and outside the country. During his earlier career, Aftab spent time as a commissioned officer, from where he resigned after the completion of higher studies from USA while on extra ordinary leave. Aftab has also worked on a logistics assignment during the United Nations Operations in Somalia (UNOSOM). Aftab holds an MBA degree from Nicholls State University, Thibodaux (LA), USA. He is also a graduate of the Executive Management Program from the Stanford University, USA, as well as the National Security Workshop of the National Defence University, Pakistan. He has also attended many other financial and capital market related programs both at home and abroad. Aftab also takes time out to speak at different national and international educational and professional forums about the regional and domestic capital and financial markets issues and development.

Aftab is also involved in different social activities related to the youth development, technical skills promotion and financial literacy. He is a national Board member of AIESEC Pakistan, which is the largest international platform for young people to discover and develop their potential for leadership, besides serving as the founder member of the Institute for Financial Literacy. Aftab is also involved in the work related to the Hunar Foundation which works for imparting employable technical skills to the Pakistani youth. Aftab is also a member of the English Speaking Union of Pakistan and the Rotary Club. Besides this, he is also associated with some other sports clubs such as the Islamabad Club, Royal Palm Golf & Country Club, and Defence Raya Golf Club.