Farzana Yaqoob, Policy Advisor & Kashmir Affairs Expert

Farzana Yaqoob is a former Minister for Social Welfare and Women Development, Government of Azad Jammu and Kashmir. As Minister, she launched several key initiatives including AJK’s first Drug Rehabilitation Center and a financial inclusion program for women entrepreneurs in collaboration with the AJK Bank.

She has also held leadership roles in multiple national and international organizations, including serving as National Consultant to the International Trade Center and Advisor at Brussels Consulting. She is also the Founder and served as CEO of MANTAQ Center for Research.

She is a member of several international policy forums and networks. She is an Eisenhower Fellow (2016) and a Young Global Leader of the World Economic Forum (2017). She has represented Pakistan and the region in various international platforms, including the United States Congress, UK House of Lords, and policy forums in Italy, Malaysia, Turkey, UAE, and SAARC countries.

She is a Board Member at KTrade Securities, Director Marketing at Kashmir Overseas Employment Services, and Principal at RMK Associates. She has been a Resource Person at the National Centre for Rural Development (NCRD) since 2020, where she delivers trainings on responsible citizenship, inclusive development, and women empowerment. Additionally, she is an Advisor at Brussels Consulting Kft. and Secretary General of the Kashmir Study Group at the Institute of Policy Studies, Islamabad. Farzana continues to contribute to youth empowerment, gender equity, and policy development across diverse platforms.