Muhammad Umair is amongst one of the last batches of International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) who visited U.S. physically before travel restrictions of Covid were imposed in 2019. At that time, Umair was serving as Deputy Commissioner at Dera Ismail Khan. IVLP turned out to be an extremely beneficial journey for Umair. Executing Integrated Energy Planning broadened his vision and he started viewing things from a holistic and integrated planning prism. The exposure to the culture, organized system of consultations, fine balance of deregulated market with public interest and green appetite coupled with a celebrated social engagement of thanksgiving altered his approach. “Their professionalism, perseverance, coordination, consultation, and synergy are key to their think tanks,” says Umair.

After participating in IVLP, Umair returned to his home country Pakistan with new inspiration on how to bring that vision to his profession. Upon return, he led the district administration with confidence and was nominated as one of the best administrations to handle the Provincial Quarantine facility, Covid SOPs and IPC practices. Umair has contributed to national energy policies like Indicative Generation Capacity Expansion Plan and worked on Integrated Agro Halal Industrial Park to graduate deprived off areas from poverty and guard food security along with sustainable foreign reserves while he was Principal Staff Officer to the Prime Minister of Pakistan. He is a career officer, now working in Planning & Development Board, Punjab and contributing to many social protection programs and sustainable energy projects while dealing with international development partners and we wish him all the luck.