I am a former civil servant of Pakistan Administrative Service (PAS). Prior to joining LUMS I was Chief Instructor National Management College, National School of Public Policy. I have served in policy formulation, implementation and evaluation roles with Government of Sindh, Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP). My formal education includes Masters in Development Planning from the University of Queensland, Australia where I was awarded Peterwood Memorial award for best performance in Development Planning program of 2002. I also did M.A in Economics and MBBS from Pakistan. I have undertaken training and development courses from South Korea, China, Thailand, Philippines, Canada and Australia.

I started my public service career as Assistant Commissioner and Additional Deputy Commissioner General/Deputy Commissioner in Sindh and Punjab. I worked on policy development positions as Deputy Secretary & Chief WTO Cell Planning &Development Department Government of Punjab and Additional Secretary/ Director (Public Policy & Change Management Wing), S&GAD. As the first Director General of Child Protection Welfare Bureau Punjab I established systems and processes of the organization on sustainable footing. As Executive District Officer Finance &Planning) City District Government, Lahore, I managed financial and development planning of the largest city of Punjab. As Director General Quaid-e-Azam Academy for Educational Development (QAED) I spearheaded the training arm of the education department. My later assignments included Additional Chief Secretary (Energy) Government of Punjab and Secretary to Government of KP Elementary & Secondary Education and Interprovincial coordination where I headed the provincial department. 

I managed social mobilization and primary health initiatives as COO Rural Support Program Network, General Manager Punjab Rural Support Program and Project Director Chief Minister’s Initiative for Primary Healthcare. I have undertaken consultancy assignments and research studies funded by International Development Agencies like Asian Development Bank, DFID (UK), CIDA and Government of Pakistan. I have taught Quality management and Contracts in Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (Canada) .

My special interests include change management, social development, local governments, participatory development, public policy, urban management, strategic planning and globalization. My research on local governments, dynastic trends in politics, impact of WTO on agriculture policies and role of institutions in poverty reduction has been published. I can be reached on m.ajmal@lums.edu.pk or ajmaldsnmc@gmail.com