Dr. Nasir Javed

Public Sector, Governance & Institutional Development Specialist

Dr. Nasir Javed is a seasoned expert in governance and institutional reforms with 35+ years of experience in municipal governance, spatial planning, urban infrastructure, and public policy. He served as the CEO of The Urban Unit for 13+ years and has led major reforms and policy initiatives across Pakistan in collaboration with international donors including ADB, WB, UNDP, and FCDO.

Core
Competencies

Dr. Nasir Javed is a seasoned expert in urban and regional planning, with a distinguished track record in infrastructure development, sustainable urbanism, and institutional reform. His deep expertise spans across policy formulation, municipal governance, stakeholder engagement, and project oversight. Over the years, he has successfully led and contributed to numerous initiatives funded by leading multilateral donors including ADB, World Bank, JICA, UNDP, and others.

Key Areas of Expertise:

  • Urban & Regional Planning Strategy

  • Land Use & Infrastructure Development

  • Sustainable Cities & Smart Urbanism

  • Public-Private Partnerships (PPP)

  • Urban Policy & Regulatory Frameworks

  • Municipal Governance & Institutional Reforms

  • Stakeholder Engagement & Negotiation

  • Financial & Project Oversight

  • Multilateral Donor Engagement (ADB, WB, JICA, UNDP, etc.)

Professional Experience

Member Directing Staff: National School of Public Policy (NSPP): (Oct 2018-Mar 2019)

  • Designing and delivering training programs for senior civil servants, curriculum development, research and development etc. Supervised batches of senior officers undergoing Senior Management Course.

 

Urban and Spatial Planning Leadership

Chief Executive Officer, The Urban Unit (2005-2018)

  • Conceived, established, and led The Urban Unit, transforming it into a leading public-sector urban policy and management entity.
  • As permanent member of the Provincial Development Working Party (PDWP) at the Planning and Development department Govt of Punjab, had close liaison with the SDG program and the unit.
  • Developed and implemented Punjab Spatial Strategy (2047), covering land use, transport, housing, and industrial development.
  • Led the institutional reform of Punjab’s Environmental Protection Department to address 21st-century environmental challenges.
  • Supported the Government of Punjab and Sind in digital monitoring of the SDGs implementation programs.
  • Spearheaded the drafting of zoning laws, municipal regulations, and land use planning frameworks for Punjab.
  • Designed and implemented Lahore Metro Bus Service Control Room, incorporating Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS).

 

Consultant, Various Multilateral Organizations (2019-Present)

  • Provided strategic guidance on urban governance, planning, and infrastructure projects funded by ADB, World Bank, and FCDO.
  • Led the design and planning of urban infrastructure, including waste management, water sanitation, and land use optimization.
  • Developed a GIS-based land valuation system for urban properties in KP Province.
  • Led urban planning initiatives to integrate climate resilience, sustainability, and economic development.

 

Project Oversight & Stakeholder Engagement

  • World Bank & ADB Projects (2021-Present): Managed large-scale urban planning and institutional reforms, leading multi-disciplinary teams of planners, engineers, and policymakers.
  • Government of Punjab & KP: Designed urban renewal projects, smart city initiatives, and policy frameworks for sustainable cities.
  • Municipal Governance and Regulations: Advised governments on drafting municipal laws, zoning policies, and regulatory frameworks to enhance urban development.

 

Sustainability and Smart City Initiatives

  • Designed integrated green urban strategies, incorporating climate resilience, public transportation, and smart technology solutions.
  • Advocated for sustainable urban planning practices, including renewable energy integration, rainwater harvesting, and eco-friendly infrastructure.

Developed Pakistan’s National Urban Policy for climate-resilient cities.

Education

  • MBA in Public-Private Partnerships in Urban Services, University of Wales, Cardiff, UK (1998)
  • LLB, University of Karachi (1996)
  • MBBS & MCPS (Psychiatry), King Edward Medical College, Lahore (1984 & 1986)

Consultancy Experience:

2020-2025

Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI): National Solid Waste Management Specialist for Sectoral Study for the Waste Sector in Pakistan under the SPAR6C Project. (6 months intermittent input).

Earnest & Young Pakistan 2024: (World Bank Project): Team Lead for the WB sponsored project of mass valuation of residential properties in District Nowshera (KP).

Earnest & Young Pakistan: 2023: (World Bank Project): Team-lead for a project for Institutional and regulatory assessment of Katchi Abadies (Slums) in Karachi.

ADB: 2021-23 International Team lead for the 24 months assignment of Institutional Review and Capacity Building consultancy team, heading a team of 28 International and national consultants, for the ADB financed 680m USD project on Solid waste management, water and sanitation and other urban services. The Project includes Design and Management of five sanitary landfill sites and waste segregation / treatment plants, with the goal of full resource recovery, and minimum GHG emissions, in line with the INDCs under Paris Agreement.

ADB: 2022-23 Deputy team lead for the Solid Waste Management Master planning & Detailed design for collection and treatment / disposal facilities, leading to minimum landfilling / GHG emissions and maximum resource recovery; for Sahiwal & Sialkot cities, under the ADB financed Intermediate cities improvement project.

Earnest & Young Pakistan: 2023: (WB Project):  Team-lead for a 15-month project for development of IDAMP (Integrated Development and Asset Management Plan) framework for Municipalities and drafting plans for 16 cities in Punjab. This is a World Bank funded project, under Punjab Cities Program.

UNICEF: Dec 2022:   Resource person for designing, conducting, and reporting on the 3 days International Workshop on National Urban Sanitation Workshop; Challenges and Opportunities.

ITC (UN): Short term consultancy on drafting the Sindh Domestic Commerce Policy and strengthening of the Department of Commerce, Sindh Govt. (Jan-May 2023)

ADB: Resource Person for WASH Sector in the Damage Needs Assessment Report for Floods 2022. (Sep-Dec 2022)

ITC (UN): Developed the draft Baluchistan Industrial Development and Regulation Act 2023. (Sep – Dec 2022)

CGPI: 2022-23 Short term consultancy on developing / revising the SWM monitoring indicators for the clean and green Pakistan Initiative, in the context of Circular Economy.

FCDO[1]: Financed project of Sub National Governance (II); Short term consultancy on developing a report on the Need Assessment for Solid Waste Management in Kasur City (2021)

FCDO: Short term consultancies on Urban Development, under the FCDO financed Sustainable Energy & Economic Development Program.  (2020-continue)

FCDO sponsored Subnational Governance Program: Team-lead for a year long assignment on GIS enabled property valuation for the Urban Properties in KP Province.

ADB: Solid waste management specialist for for Solid Waste Management Sector: A Roadmap for Reform for Policy Makers, (published by ADB at: https://www.adb.org/publications/solid-waste-management-pakistan-road-map

Waste Sector Inclusion in the Revised Nationally Determined Contributions of Pakistan: ADB 2022; https://www.adb.org/publications/waste-sector-inclusion-revised-ndcs-pakistan

Urban Sector Inclusion in the Revised Nationally Determined Contributions of Pakistan : ADB 2022; https://www.adb.org/publications/urban-sector-inclusion-ndcs-pakistan

Government of KP: Team lead for the Master Planning & system design, including Project preparation for Solid waste Management in Peshawar, Mardan, Abbottabad, Kohat & Mingora cities; including collection, transport, recycling, Biogas generation, RDF etc. and Land fill design.

[1] Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office. (Previously DFID)

2015-2020

Govt of Punjab 2020: Team lead for the Transaction Advisory Services for the outsourcing of Solid Waste Management in Lahore, including System design, financial modeling & procurement of contractors.

Government of AJK: Team lead for design of the Solid Waste Management system for the city of Muzaffarabad, including Waste characterisation studies and Materials Recovery Facility design.

ADB 2020: Short term consultant for developing the Climate Resilient National Urban Policy. (Feb-Aug 2020)

World Bank: Short term consultancy as institutional development Specialist, supporting Board of Investment in developing a strategy paper and implementation plan for developing Pakistan Business Portal.

IGC / CDPR: Short term consultancy for developing Project document for Baluchistan Spatial Strategy.

UNOPS 2019: Short term consultant as a Public Sector Liaison Specialist for UNOPS Pakistan.  (Sep 2019- Oct 2021)

ADB 2019: Short consultancy on Spatial Data Analysis as part of a team of consultants, working on development of the Industrial, Trade & Tourism Policy for the Government of Azad Jammu & Kashmir, Pakistan.

ADB 2019: Short term consultancy as Senior Economic Specialist for Economic Corridors Development (Decision Support System) project.

2010-2015

USAID: 2012-13 : Worked as the team lead at a 6 months consultancy for the detailed institutional design of the Water and Sanitation Services Peshawar, a corporate entity, merging the 6 existing water & Sanitation utilities;

2000 - 2010

ADB  20042005:  Worked as Capacity Development Specialist at the Decentralization Support Program, providing technical assistance to the Local Governments, under the devolved system of PLGO 2001. 

UNDP Nov 2003 : Worked as  Team Leader for the TUGI Report Card assessing the municipal services at sub district level,  Tehsil Jaranwala, Faisalabad.

Aug 2002 – Sep 2003: Working  as an Institutional Reform Specialist, developed the Gender Reform Action Plan for the province of Sindh, Pakistan. ADB Funded Project

WWF 2002-4:  As a capacity Development Specialist for the Environmental Management activities of WWF. Have authored a manual on Urban Waste Management for TMAs and one on Hospital Waste Management for professionals and administrators.

Memberships & Affiliations

  • Member, Advisory Board, Pakistan Institute of Development Economics
  • Member, Research “Cities That Work,” IGC London
  • Member, Editorial Board, ‘Environment & Urbanization Asia’ (SAGE)
  • Founding Editor, Pakistan Journal of Urban Affairs

Publications & Policy Papers

  • Solid Waste Management Sector Reform in Pakistan, ADB (2022)
  • Urban Sector Inclusion in Pakistan’s Revised NDCs, ADB (2022)
  • Smart Cities and Governance: A Policy Framework, World Bank (2021)
  • Developing a National Urban Policy: A Case Study of Pakistan, Springer (2019)

Interntionl Trainings, Workshops & Conferences:

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