Parvez Ahmed Shahid
Parvez Ahmed Shahid | |
|---|---|
| Born | December 20, 1948 Lahore, Pakistan |
| Occupation | Banking executive |
| Years active | 1973–present |
| Known for | Co-chairman of Bank Alfalah, global treasury head at BCCI, Pakistan coordinator for Abu Dhabi Group |
Parvez Ahmed Shahid (born 20 December 1948) is a former banking executive who held the position of co-chairman on the Central Management Committee at Bank Alfalah between 2006 and 2011. Prior to this role, he was the global treasury head at BCCI until his departure in June 1991.
Shahid also served as the Pakistan coordinator for the Abu Dhabi Group, a UAE-based conglomerate led by Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan, a prominent member of the Abu Dhabi Royal Family and federal minister. Drawing on a long-established personal relationship dating back to the 1970s, Shahid along with his brother Bashir Tahir were instrumental in attracting over $1 billion in foreign capital investment into Pakistan from this group.
Family and early life
Originating from Lahore, Shahid is the youngest among five siblings within a family rooted in banking. His father, Sheikh Muhammad Zameer, worked for a government bank prior to Pakistan’s independence. His brothers Khurshid Ahmed Tariq, Bashir Tahir, and Jamshed Ahmed Anjum each retired from banking careers. His sister, Naseem Rauf, earned an MA in English from University of Punjab.
Education
In 1971, Shahid completed a Bachelor of Science degree at Forman Christian College, located in Lahore, Pakistan. In 1987, he undertook specialized training in options trading at Insead in Font En Bleu, France. Additionally, he participated in a three-month Finance and Management course in Tokyo, Japan, where he studied operational strategies of leading Japanese corporations such as Daiwa Bank, Nomura Securities, Toyota Motors, and Panasonic.
Bank of Credit and Commerce International
Following his academic pursuits, Shahid joined BCCI in 1973 based in Abu Dhabi, UAE. Between 1984 and 1986, he led the Central Support Office for Global Treasury Operations in the United Kingdom. Subsequently, he returned to Abu Dhabi to serve as Joint Executive In-Charge of Treasury. Shahid resigned from BCCI in June 1991 and relocated back to Pakistan. Among his notable associates at BCCI were:
| Name | BCCI Location | Current Position |
|---|---|---|
| Khawaja Muhammad Asif | Abu Dhabi | Federal Minister of Water and Power (Pakistan) |
| Aqeel Hasan | Abu Dhabi | CEO of Pizza Hut & Burger King (Pakistan) |
| Badar Kazmi | Abu Dhabi | President, NIB Bank (Pakistan) |
| Khalid Imran | Abu Dhabi | President, JS Bank |
| Shahryar Ahmed | Abu Dhabi | Managing Director, Pak-Kuwait Investment Company |
| Iqbal Ashraf | Abu Dhabi | Managing Director, Pak-Iran Joint Investment Company |
Consultancy
From 1992 through 1996, Shahid engaged in consultancy work while also co-managing a trading enterprise with partners.
Bank Alfalah Limited
In 1997, the Abu Dhabi Group from the UAE acquired Bank Alfalah Limited, with Shahid spearheading the bidding process as the authorised representative for Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan. Initially Pakistan’s smallest bank with just three branches, Shahid transformed it into the country’s fifth-largest private bank (sixth including state-owned entities like the National Bank of Pakistan) boasting over 471 branches domestically and internationally across Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and Bahrain. He introduced global benchmarks in customer service excellence, innovation, technology adoption, marketing strategies, brand development, and financial management.
Under Shahid’s stewardship, Bank Alfalah Limited evolved into a regional franchise with significant brand equity. The institution expanded into a business valued at US$300 million from an initial equity injection of US$40 million, delivering substantial shareholder value with an approximate eightfold return on investment over thirteen years (not accounting for dividends).
Warid Telecom
Building on the achievements with Bank Alfalah, the Dhabi Group expanded its interests into telecommunications, real estate, and financial services sectors. During the administration of Pervez Musharraf, two GSM licenses were made available through auction. Shahid, once again appointed by Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan as his authorised power of attorney, co-led the consortium that secured a GSM license for $291 million. He played a central role in launching Warid Telecom in Pakistan and collaborated with leading global telecom and IT firms including Ericsson, Huawei, Motorola, Cisco, and IBM.
As a member of the Board, Shahid utilized banking expertise to assist Warid Telecom in overtaking Mobilink in postpaid subscriber numbers. He also attracted prominent brand ambassadors such as Atif Aslam and Reema Khan, significantly boosting the company’s brand visibility.
Wateen Telecom
Established in 2005 by the Abu Dhabi Group, Wateen Telecom is a major player in Pakistan’s communications industry. Shahid contributed as a Board member until 2011, where he was instrumental in rolling out the country’s largest fibre optic infrastructure and managing the deployment of the world’s most extensive nationwide WiMax network.
Other Abu Dhabi Group companies
In addition to his telecom roles, Shahid held board memberships at various Abu Dhabi Group entities including Alfalah Insurance, Wincom, and Alfalah GHP Fund Management, an asset management company licensed by SECP.
Acquisition of United Bank Limited
In 2002, Shahid spearheaded the acquisition of a 51% controlling interest in Pakistan’s third-largest bank, United Bank Limited, for US$205 million on behalf of a consortium comprising Bestway Group (UK) and investors from the UAE. Currently, UBL boasts a market capitalization exceeding US$1 billion.
Post retirement
Presently serving as Chairman of Equity Global, a Lahore-based financial advisory firm, Shahid draws upon more than four decades of experience in regional finance to guide corporations and ultra high-net-worth clients in investment banking and strategic private equity ventures.
Public service
Shahid has contributed to public service through board membership at the Punjab Board of Investment and Trade (PBIT) and presently serves on the board of the Rising Sun Institute for Special Children. He also holds positions as a member of the alumni board of governors and honorary treasurer at F.C. College Lahore.