Dr. Nasim Ashraf serves as the Executive Director for the Center for Pakistan at the Middle East Institute in Washington, D.C.
Prior to his current position, Dr. Ashraf was the Minister of State for Human Development in the Pakistan Government from 2002-2008. He also served as Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board from 2006-2008.
He is a close confidante and personal friend of former President Pervez Musharraf. From his vantage point as a prior Minister of State, he provides a strategic and humanitarian perspective on the present situation in Pakistan and Afghanistan. He brings a first hand account of Pakistan's fight against extremism and terrorism, while offering education and peace as the solution for going forward.
Dr. Ashraf's appearance on Aljazeera television:
Dr. Ashraf is a native Pashtun and has spent over 30 years setting up programs to help the local tribespeople with healthcare and education projects, particularly women's literacy. He offers unique insights on human solutions for winning the support of the people of Northwest frontier region. His advice for NGOs and governments is practical and he understands equally the mentality of both the West and the frontier's people.
Nasim Ashraf is an internationally recognized social worker who has promoted the cause of the poor worldwide and actively initiated and implemented projects to improve the quality of life of people. Since 2001, he has been working full time as a volunteer in Pakistan, heading the National Commission for Human Development. (www.nchd.org/pk).
Dr. Ashraf, a community activist, has been involved in development work at the grass roots level for 30 years. In 1998, while President of APPNA, the largest organization of Pakistani professionals in USA, he conceived, designed and implemented an innovative and highly successful model of primary health care to reduce disease and lower death rates in developing countries. This model, called APPNA SEHAT Village Improvement Program has been successfully carried out in rural Pakistan since 1989 and has reduced infant mortality and maternal mortality rates by 300% and currently serves nearly 200,000 people in 100 villages all over Pakistan. APPNA SEHAT has received international recognition and the model has won many awards, most recently, The Richard and Hinda Rosenthal Foundation Award given by the American College of Physicians.
In 1997 Dr. Ashraf co-founded the Human Development Foundation of North America (HDFNA), an organization dedicated to the empowerment of people at the grass roots level in America as well as Pakistan. HDFNA has integrated human development grass roots projects serving 100,000 people in all four provinces of Pakistan. He has also served as Chairman of the Oregon Medical Association Public Health Education Committee and President of Douglas County Medical Society. He is a member of Amnesty International, The World Wildlife Fund and the End Hunger Campaign. He serves on various boards including The National Council of Islamic Affairs of America, Muslim Education Trust and the Overseas Pakistanis Foundation.
He is the founding member and President of Pakistani Americans Public Affairs Committee (PAK-PAC), which works extensively with the U.S. Congress to promote issues of importance to Pakistani Americans. He was the Chair of Quaid Project, USA, and was the executive co-producer of the movie Jinnah, the first major international film on the life of the founder of Pakistan.
Dr. Ashraf has published original studies in national and international medical journals, and lectured on human development issues at various international forums and meetings. Dr. Ashraf has appeared on CNN, FOX News, PBS, Al Jazeera and Pakistan Television to advocate people-centered development and other issues relating to Pakistan.
Dr. Nasim Ashraf has dedicated his life to humanitarian work and the empowerment of people. In 1998 he set up relief camps in Kosovo and Albania for the victims of war.
Dr. Ashraf brought Zahida Perveen, a victim of domestic violence and 'honour' crimes, to the USA for treatment and reconstructive surgery. He then established the Zahida Perveen Trust Fund for Zahida's continuing medical care and the education of her children. He has been featured on National Geographic Television for his efforts in this area.
Dr. Ashraf founded Americans for Peace and Justice in South Asia (APJSA) to work with the American think tanks, US Congress, and the media in particular for promotion of peace and conflict resolution in South Asia. APJSA has been instrumental in arranging visits of several Congressmen and Senators to Pakistan, holding seminars at prestigious US institutions such as the Georgetown School of International Affairs, creating a permanent fellowship for Pakistan Studies at the John Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies in Washington, and publication of articles supporting Pakistan's view point in the New York Times and Washington Post.
Dr. Ashraf was honored by the Institute of Overseas Pakistanis, which awarded him a Gold Medal in 1996 for services to the people of Pakistan. He is also recipient of the APPNA Gold Medal for his contributions towards promoting health care in rural Pakistan. In 1992, the South Douglas County Chamber of Commerce in Oregon, USA, adjudged him Citizen of the Year.
Dr. Nasim Ashraf was awarded "Star Man of The Year" in the field of Human Resources Management by South Asia Publications at the XIV Star Awards 2003. Recently he also received Gold Medal from Sohni Dharti for services to the people of Pakistan in the field of human development.
The Khyber Medical College Alumni Association of North America awarded Dr. Nasim Ashraf the "Lifetime Achievement Award 2004".
Dr. Ashraf is ultimately interested in the role of civil society in human development. He has worked tirelessly throughout his life to promote peace and harmony between people of different faiths and religions. For this service he received a Special Award from Fairfax County, Virginia, USA for promoting Asian American Harmony in 2000.
Dr. Nasim Ashraf graduated with honors from Khyber Medical College Peshawar University, Pakistan in 1972. He is a fellow of the American College of Physicians.
OTHER APPOINTMENTS AND POSITIONS
- Team Leader, President of Pakistan's Human Development, 2001
- Co-Chair Human Development Foundation of North America
- Chairman, Oregon Medical Association Public Health Committee, 1993
- Chairman, APPNA-SEHAT, 1989-1999
- President, PAK-PAC, 1990-1991, 1993-94
- President, Douglas County Medical Society, 1992
- President, Association of Pakistani Physicians of North America, 1987-1998
- Delegate, Oregon Medical Association, 1993-1996
- Director, International Association of American Physicians, 1988
- Member of Board, PAK-PAK, 1990-Present
- Member of Board, Islamic Center, Eugene, Oregon, 1982-1987
- Member of Board, Muslim Education Trust, Portland, Oregon Member APPNA
- Advisory Task Force to Ministry of Health, Government of Pakistan, 1982
AWARDS AND HONORS
- Conferred Sitara-e-Imtiaz by President of Pakistan in 2006 for 30 years of distinguished public service.
- UNESCO INTERNATIONAL AWARD for Literacy in 2006.
- Awarded Gold Medal for the Most Outstanding Graduate of Khyber Medical College 1956-2004 on occasion of KMC's Golden Jubilee.
- Lifetime Achievement Award by Khyber Medical College Alumni Association of North America. 2004.
- Gold Medal Award by Sohni Dharti 2004
- Star Man of the Year Award by South Asia Publications (SAP) - 2003
- Recipient of American College of Physicians Linda Rosenthal Award 2002
- Richard and Hinda Rosenthal Foundation Award given by the American College of Physicians, 2002
- Special Award from Fairfax County, Virginia, USA for promoting Asian American Harmony. 2000
- Institute of Overseas Pakistanis, Gold Medal Award, 1996
- WHO'S WHO IN AMERICA, 1994
- APPNA Gold Medal Award, 1993
- APPNA Presidential Award, 1986
- Khyber Medical College Dean's Award for Service to Alma Mater, 1998
- South Douglas County Chamber of Commerce Outstanding Citizen Award, 1992
- Best Student of the School, St. Mary's Cambridge School, Peshawar, 1965
- Merit Scholarship Recipient, Peshawar Board of Education, Pakistan, 1967
PROFESSIONAL SOCIETIES
- American Medical Association
- Oregon Medical Association
- Douglas County Medical Society
- American College of Physicians
- Renal Physicians Association & American Society of Hypertension
- Association of Pakistani Physicians of North America
- Islamic Medical Association
- National Kidney Foundation
- PG County Medical Society
PUBLICATIONS / LECTURES AT NATIONAL /
INTERNATIONAL MEETINGS
- February 16, 2009 World Affairs Council, Greensboro, NC
- July 26-29, 2002 The 2002 Caux Dialogue "New Challenges for Muslims & Non-Muslims"
- April 26, 1998 Columbia University, New York, NY "Human Development Policy Options for Pakistan in the 21st Century"
- March 7, 1998 Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, "Role of Civil Society in Development"
- December, 1997 AWAZ TV Program, Washington, DC, Panelist "Current Political Crisis in Pakistan"
- November, 1997 AWAZ TV Program, Washington, DC, Annual Dinner chaired by Mr. Moeen Qureshi, former Prime Minister of Pakistan "Civic Responsibilities of Pakistani Americans"
- September, 1997 Wake Forest, NC, American Institute of Pakistan Studies: 50th Anniversary Celebrations of Pakistan. AIPS - Panel discussion on "Jinnah" along with Prof. Akbar S. Ahmed and Chief Justice (retd.) Nasim Hassan Khan.
- July, 1997 New York, NY, APPNA Annual Conference, "Human Development issues in Pakistan" Co-Chair of Symposium along with Dr. Mahbub ul Haq, former Finance Minister of Pakistan
- March, 1997 George Washington University, Washington, D.C., Symposium on Occasion of Pakistan's 50th Anniversary Celebrations "Participants of Young Pakistani Americans in the Political Process in America"
- October, 1996 "Jinnah", "What he means to Pakistani Americans." Launch of the film Jinnah at Waldrof Astoria, New York, NY
- July, 1996 APPNA SEHAT, Primary Health Care Model and Role of Civil Society in Development in Pakistan Institute of Overseas Pakistanis, Islamabad
- June, 1996 Portland State University, Portland Oregon "Clash of Civilizations - Reality or Myth." (MET Conference)
- July, 1995 Dallas, TX, APPNA Annual Convention, "Geo Political role of Pakistan in South Asia"
- 1994 Istanbul, Turkey, International Conference on Health of IMA APPNA SEHAT Prime Health Care model for Developing Countries
- October, 1992 "APPNA SEHAT", What expatriate Pakistanis owe Pakistan, London, APPUKI
- May, 1992 Umpqua Community College, Roseburg, Oregon, "Islam, Judaism & Christianity, the Common Link."
To book Dr. Ashraf to speak at your event, please contact: Jan Jones Worldwide Speakers Bureau at 1-760-431-8692
