Islamabad, Pakistan, September 2025 — Khushhali Microfinance Bank Limited (KMBL) has announced the appointment of Farhad Zulfiqar Ali as its new Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO). With an extensive career spanning more than two decades across leading financial institutions in Pakistan, the Middle East, and beyond, Ali brings deep expertise in strategic leadership, people development, and organizational transformation to his new role.
Ali most recently served as Executive Strategy Advisor at KT Bank Pakistan, where he provided leadership on financial services innovation and organizational transformation. Prior to that, he was Chief Executive Officer of The First MicroFinance Bank – Syria, a position he held for over six years, driving strategic growth and inclusive financial services in challenging markets. He also served the same institution earlier as Chairman of the Risk Committee and Member of the Board of Directors, based in Geneva, Switzerland.
Earlier, Ali spent a decade with the National Bank of Oman, where he led several strategic portfolios. He served as Head – Retail Liabilities & Fee Income, Head – Retail Assets Business, Head – Retail Business Strategy, and Head of Products, Market Research & Business Intelligence, successfully managing large portfolios, driving profitability, and building innovative financial products. During this period, he also served as Member of the Board of Directors and Audit & Risk Committees at LOLC EL-OULA Microfinance Egypt, contributing to regional microfinance leadership.
Ali’s career in Pakistan began with senior roles at National Bank of Pakistan, where he was Senior Vice President / Head of Products & National Sales Manager. He established the bank’s product development and alternate sales structures, leading large national teams. He also held earlier corporate banking leadership roles as Director Corporate at the Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi (MUFG), managing credit relationships with multinationals and large corporates.
Ali is an alumnus of Harvard Business School, where he completed the Strategic Leadership in Inclusive Finance program in 2022. He also holds an MBA in Marketing of Financial Services from the Institute of Business Administration (IBA), Karachi, equipping him with a strong foundation in financial services strategy and leadership.
About Khushhali Microfinance Bank Limited
Founded in 2000, Khushhali Microfinance Bank Limited (formerly Khushhalibank Limited) is a pioneering institution created under the Government of Pakistan’s Poverty Reduction Strategy and the Microfinance Sector Development Program (MSDP), facilitated by the Asian Development Bank (ADB). Headquartered in Islamabad, KMBL operates under the supervision of the State Bank of Pakistan and plays a catalytic role in stabilizing and strengthening the country’s microfinance sector. With a board comprising global experts in banking, fund management, and microfinance, KMBL remains dedicated to retailing microfinance services that empower individuals and communities across Pakistan.
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