Farjad Jafri

Scholar background

Farjad has over 20 years’ experience in the banking and finance industry. He has worked for Habib Metro Bank for more than a decade and is currently the Executive Vice President Zonal Head. The bank has a nationwide network of over 400 branches in more than 138 cities across Pakistan and is continuing to expand. Farjad oversees the development and execution of the bank's overall business strategy.

Before joining Habib Metro, Farjad held several leadership roles in the corporate banking and finance sector, including Vice President at both Faysal Bank and Atlas Bank. He began his career as an Assistant Manager at Saudi Pak Leasing Company in 1999.

He earned a Bachelor’s in Economics from the University of Karachi, and an MBA with honors from the Institute of Business Management. In 2022, he completed his Master of Global Trade at RMIT University through the Hinrich Global Trade Leader Scholarship Program.

Personal statement

Coming from one of the largest cosmopolitan cities in the world and the main financial hub of the country, I have been interacting with people from the broad strata of society. This experience enables me to understand the complexities of the social and economic aspects.

Overseeing trade transactions as a Business Head, I have particularly understood how global trade can be fragile and sensitive to social and political disruptions. However, these patterns have shifted over the past decade in response to events such as Brexit, the United States and China trade war, and the COVID-19 pandemic.

The pandemic has created undesirable distortions, undermining growth rates globally. As a proponent of free trade, I believe that reciprocal trade between countries should be paramount. Any policy that stymies an unhindered exchange will only create inefficiency and economic deprivation. Therefore, the goal of any policy making should be to safeguard the economic actors in these trade environments. Additionally, the global crisis in 2020 and the volatility of the situation have reinforced the importance of geographically diversified supply chains. A trade policy should also be responsible in helping economic actors in this diversification.

The courses offered in the Master of Global Trade program will provide me with the desired tools and training to comprehend deeper and address the various challenges highlighted above. It also provides opportunities to interact with a diversified global population which will also aid me in having a global perspective on international issues. Throughout my studies, I will use my new and enhanced skills to help my organization engage more meaningfully with its clients. I will also introduce more sustainable practices that will allow for greater supply chain diversification. Through the Master of Global Trade, I believe that I will be able to better serve my clients, my organization and my country.