Meet the people guiding
DIL’s mission at the national and global level.
Board of Directors
Founder and CEO
Fiza Shah
Fiza Shah is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Developments in Literacy (DIL). Since establishing the organization in 1997, she has transformed it into one of Pakistan’s leading providers of quality education for underserved children. Under her leadership, DIL has educated hundreds of thousands of students, expanded girls’ access to schooling, strengthened teacher development, and introduced technology-enabled learning solutions that bring innovation to classrooms.
Fiza earned her Executive MBA from the University of California, Irvine, and has received numerous honors for her contributions, including Pakistan’s prestigious Tamgha-e-Imtiaz (Medal of Excellence). She remains deeply committed to ensuring that every child, regardless of background, has access to the knowledge and opportunities needed to achieve their fullest potential.
Chairperson
Muhammad Shahzad
Muhammad Shahzad is President at Valar Atomics, where he oversees the company’s day-to-day business operations. Prior to this role, Muhammad was the President and Chief Financial Officer of Relativity Space, where he oversaw the company’s commercial, financial, people, legal, and risk functions. Under his leadership, Relativity raised over $2 billion and expanded its team more than twentyfold. With over two decades of finance and capital markets experience, he has held senior roles at The Honest Company and Goldman Sachs, advising on transactions exceeding $30 billion.
Earlier in his career, he founded a startup and worked at Accenture and Deutsche Bank. Muhammad graduated cum laude from The Wharton School and earned his MBA from the UCLA Anderson School of Management.
Maha Hayat
Maha Hayat is a founding member of DIL’s New York chapter and has been a dedicated supporter of Developments in Literacy for more than 24 years. She has played a central role in establishing the chapter’s presence, leading fundraising efforts, and cultivating a strong network of donors to advance DIL’s mission of empowering underprivileged girls in Pakistan through education.
Professionally, Maha brings her creative eye and passion for design to her work at Alex Papachristidis Interiors, where she specializes in interior architecture and design, balancing a thriving career with her long-standing commitment to philanthropy.
Wajid Mirza
Wajid Mirza is the Managing Partner of Arthur Lawrence LP, a global consulting firm he co-founded in 2003. He has led the company’s expansion across industries and continents, serving Fortune 500 and Global 2000 clients while promoting technology-driven solutions. A social entrepreneur at heart, Wajid integrates business growth with social impact, creating opportunities for dignified livelihoods and community development.
He is a member of the Forbes Business Development Council and actively supports nonprofit organizations focused on literacy, healthcare, and youth mentorship, extending his commitment to linking business leadership with meaningful social progress through education.
Abdul Rehman Yaqub
Abdul Rehman Yaqub has over 35 years of experience in the global textile industry and serves as a visionary leader at 1888 Mills, LLC. Over the years, he has drawn on his deep knowledge of international textile markets to guide the company’s growth and long-term strategy. His unique ability to bring together people of diverse cultures and backgrounds has enabled 1888 Mills to become a pioneer of global textile production, with mills in Pakistan, Bangladesh, Ghana, and the United States.
Today, Abdul Rehman is recognized as a predominant global business leader and remains committed to advancing opportunities for education and community development through DIL.
Shaila Zamir
Shaila Zamir is a long-standing member of the DIL Board and has previously served as President of the New York chapter. She has been a driving force behind some of the organization’s most impactful fundraising initiatives, including the annual New York gala — one of DIL’s most high-profile events.
Through her leadership, Shaila has mobilized vital support for DIL’s mission, strengthened its presence across the United States, and raised awareness about the urgent need for quality education in Pakistan. Professionally, Shaila is an entrepreneur and founder of her own interior design firm. She holds an undergraduate degree in art history and interior design from Parsons.
Adnan Zuberi
Adnan Zuberi is a Managing Director and Co-Head of Global Capital Markets for the Americas at BNP Paribas. His responsibilities span the Investment Grade, Leverage Finance, Equity, Securitization and Real Asset businesses. With more than two decades of experience, he previously held senior roles at JPMorgan Chase, UBS, and Credit Suisse, advising on complex credit and securitization transactions across asset classes.
A graduate of the University of Michigan, Adnan has also been an active supporter of DIL’s New York chapter, contributing to its growth and ensuring it remains a strong platform for advancing education in Pakistan.
Advisory Board
Patron
Dr. Maleeha Lodhi
Dr. Maleeha Lodhi is a journalist, an academic and a diplomat from Pakistan. Until recently, she was the High Commissioner of Pakistan to the United Kingdom, and a former Ambassador to the United States.
She is currently a Fellow at the Institute of Politics, Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. She has also been a member of the United Nations Secretary-General Advisory Board on Disarmament.
Sara Abbasi
Sara Abbasi was born in Pakistan and raised in Brussels and Manila. A philanthropist committed to expanding access to education worldwide, her work is marked by a dedication to breaking down cultural barriers and fostering cross-cultural understanding. Sara is a founding board member of DIL and established the organization’s San Francisco chapter in 2001. She currently serves on the Board of Directors of Stanford Health Care and chairs the Director’s Advisory Board of the Cantor Arts Center at Stanford University. She has previously served on the boards of the American Pakistan Foundation, the World Affairs Council of Northern California, and Menlo School. In 2003, Sara and her husband, Sohaib Abbasi, endowed the Sohaib and Sara Abbasi Program in Islamic Studies at Stanford University. Sara holds a Master of Liberal Arts degree from Stanford University.
Najeeb Ghauri
Najeeb Ghauri is the Founder, Chairman, and CEO of NetSol Technologies, Inc., a NASDAQ-listed global technology company specializing in AI-driven finance and leasing solutions. Under his leadership, NetSol has grown into a leading company with operations in eight countries and a workforce of more than 2,000 employees worldwide. Prior to founding NetSol, he held leadership roles with Unilever and ARCO. In 2021, he was awarded the Sitara-i-Imtiaz, one of Pakistan’s highest civilian honors. Najeeb serves on the boards of USPBC (US Pakistan Business Counsel in Washington, DC), NUST, and Forman Christian College and actively supports educational and humanitarian organizations, including DIL.
Maha Khan
Maha Khan is a civic leader and volunteer whose work focuses on education, public policy, international engagement, and community empowerment. She has served as President of DIL’s Houston Chapter for nearly a decade, leading its growth and community impact. Under her leadership, DIL received recognition from the Governor of Texas, the Mayor of Houston, and members of the U.S. Congress. Maha is Chairwoman of the Muslim American Leadership Alliance (MALA), an accredited NGO with consultative status at the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). She remains deeply committed to advancing education and empowering communities through civic engagement and philanthropy.
Shoaib A. Kothawala
Shoaib A. Kothawala is the Founder, President, and CEO of the Transworld Group of Companies, a global enterprise headquartered in Los Angeles with manufacturing operations in Pakistan, China, and Vietnam, serving the retail, hospitality, and healthcare sectors. Under his leadership, the company has built long-standing partnerships with leading international brands while promoting Pakistani-made products across North America. A dedicated philanthropist, Shoaib has supported numerous education, healthcare, and community development initiatives in Pakistan, including DIL. Through his business leadership and philanthropic efforts, he remains committed to expanding opportunities and improving lives through education and social impact.