ONSIA ZAFAR
Summary
Experienced Commerce & Trade Group officer with a strong track record in trade enhancement and promotion. Background in Business Studies and relevant coursework strengthens expertise in core work. Demonstrates a deep understanding of trade-related issues and their impact.
Overview
20
20
years of professional experience
Work History
Deputy Secretary /Deputy Chief
Ministry of Commerce
04.2024 - Current
- Liaison with different wings of the Ministry of Commerce including the Trade Policy, Foreign Trade Wing, Tariff Wing, Services Wing, Agro-Non Agro Products Wing & other Government Departments to provide rule position/policy advice in accordance with WTO legal agreements
- Review text of FTA/PTAS and Bilateral Investment Treaties in line with our commitments and obligations under the WTO
- Engage with various stakeholders on WTO agreements currently under negotiation at the WTO
- Assist Trade Policy Wing in trade policy
Deputy Secretary (CIS) Region
Ministry of Commerce
09.2023 - 04.2024
- Working on Preliminary Review of Pakistan -Turkey Trade in Good Agreement (TGA)
- Working on Pakistan -Gulf Cooperation Council (Consultative sessions with Public & the Private Sector
- Assisted during intersessional and 5th Round of Pakistan -GCC FTA held from 26-28th Sep,2023
- Worked on Pakistan UAE Comprehensive Partnership Agreement (CEPA(Consultative sessions with Public & the Private Sector)
- Holding of Intersessional meetings between Pakistan & UAE CEPA
- Focal Point from Pakistan side during intersessional meetings for the chapters on SME Cooperation, Technical Barriers to Trade & Digital Trade under Pakistan UAE CEPA
- Looking after bilateral trade and market access related issues
Deputy Secretary
Ministry of Commerce
02.2020 - 09.2023
- Working on Bilateral Trade Issues, Trade Agreements (FTA-PTAs) and other Trade Related Matters
- Assisted in Renegotiation of Afghanistan Pakistan Transit Trade Agreement
- (APTTA)
- Assisted in consultation sessions on proposed Pakistan-Afghanistan PTA
- Coordination/liaison with concerned Ministries /National Assembly w.r.t to various trade related issues pertaining to Afghanistan and border related issues
- Assisted in Pakistan Uzbekistan PTA
- Assisted in various Joint Economic Commissions, JMC /JECs of Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan and Iran
- Assisted in finalization of MoU on Joint Border Markets between Pakistan and Iran and Pakistan and Afghanistan
- Assisted in Uzbekistan Pakistan Business Forum
- Worked on various Joint Working Group on Trade including Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Iran
Deputy Director
Trade Development Authority of Pakistan
11.2018 - 03.2020
- Worked closely with Regional Chambers specially Islamabad Women Chamber of Commerce & Industry
- Planned various workshops /awareness seminars to be organized by TDAP Islamabad Office for Women Entrepreneurs
- Organized trade promotional events
Deputy Director Emerging Pakistan /In charge –EP (Cell)
Ministry of Commerce
11.2018 - 05.2019
- Worked as part of team responsible for the Nation Branding Initiative
Section Officer (Paris Club Wing –EU Desk)
Economic Affairs Division
01.2017 - 05.2018
- Worked on Various Donor Assistance Programs funded by European Union & Donor Assistance programs by , GIZ, and KFW
- Worked on the Project of Pakistan-Germany Debt Swap
- Close liaisons with EU Delegation, KFW and GIZ
- Held various Portfolio Review Meetings between Pakistan and EU Delegation- responsible Provincial Departments
- Coordination & Liaison with various Government Departments to finalize EU financing Agreements
- Liaison with Development partners including EU Delegation, KFW, GIZ and German Embassy
- Worked on GTG meeting between Pakistan & Germany
- Worked on Pakistan EU Joint Commission –Sub Group on Development Assistance
Deputy Director, Domestic Commerce Wing
Ministry of Commerce
09.2016 - 01.2017
Deputy Secretary Administration
Ministry of Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit Baltistan
08.2015 - 09.2016
Section Officer – Asia Pacific Region – Foreign Trade Wing
Ministry of Commerce, Government of Pakistan
06.2014 - 08.2015
Section Officer–Export
Ministry of Commerce, Government of Pakistan
03.2014 - 06.2014
Section Officer (Admin)
Ministry of Commerce, Government of Pakistan
05.2013 - 03.2014
- This position deals with the Administrative matters of Trade Officer/Officials posted in Foreign Missions Abroad
Section Officer (Africa/ Middle East – Foreign Trade Wing)
Ministry of Commerce, Government of Pakistan
01.2011 - 05.2013
Section Officer, World Trade Organization – WTO Wing
Ministry of Commerce, Government of Pakistan
09.2010 - 01.2011
Assistant Director
Pakistan Institute of Trade & Development, Ministry of Commerce
10.2009 - 09.2010
- Joined on 15th January, 2009 after completion Common Training Program from Civil Services Academy, Lahore
Research Officer (BS–17)
National Assembly of Pakistan
09.2004 - 01.2009
Officer Grade–II
National Bank of Pakistan
06.2004 - 09.2004
Education
M.B.A. -
Masters - Political Science
B.Sc. -
Skills
- Understanding of WTO Agreements and the Multilateral System
- Experience in negotiating free trade agreements
- Knowledgeable about trade policy and related issues
- Relevant experience in Market Access initiatives and Trade Promotion
Official Visits & Trainings abroad
- Advance Course on General Agreement on Trade in Services, WTO, Geneva,Switzerland, 16th -20th Sep, 2024
- Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, 09/26/2023-09/28/2023, Fifth Round of Pakistan -Gulf Cooperation Council Free Trade Agreement held in Riyadh.
- Singapore, 09/27/2022-09/01/2022, Asia Pacific Trade Facilitation Forum & Side Events.
- Bahrain, 07/28/2022-07/29/2022, Second Session of Pak-Bahrain Joint Ministerial Commission.
- Kenya, 01/29/2020-02/01/2020, First Pakistan Africa Trade Development Conference in Nairobi.
- Switzerland, 02/19/2018-02/23/2018, Attended course on WTO Law.
- Belgium, 10/09/2017-10/11/2017, Participated as member of Pakistan’s official Delegation for Pakistan- EU Joint Commission.
- Indonesia, 07/30/2017-08/09/2017, Attended a course on Enhancing the Development of Small and Medium Industry.
- Sri Lanka, 11/11/2014-11/15/2014, Participated in Trade Policy Training Course.
- Malaysia, 06/24/2013-06/28/2013, Participated in course on Women as Global Entrepreneurs.
- Nepal, 01/21/2013-01/25/2013, Participated in Trade Policy Course.
- Geneva, 09/05/2012-11/25/2012, Participated in Advanced Trade Policy Course.
- India, 09/05/2012-11/25/2012, Participated in WTO Regional Trade Policy Course.
- USA, 05/16/2010-05/28/2010, Visited USA to participate in Capacity Building Program.
- China, 06/10/2007-06/08/2007, Attended workshop Understanding Modern China.
Seminars/Workshops
- Technical Barriers to Trade in Pursuit of Sustainable development, 07/08/2021, online, World Trade Institute, University of Bern, Switzerland
- Capacity Building of Officers Ministry of Commerce, 2014-2015, USAID
- WTO E-learning certificate online course, 06/07/2011, The Multilateral Trade Agreements-ET200911E
- WTO National Seminar on Trade & Development, 11/25/2010-11/26/2010, WTO, PITAD
- Joint Training Program for future Commercial Attaches, 04/19/2010-04/03/2010, NUST, Pakistan
- Research Methodology Training, 04/2007, US AID
- The Art of Technical Writing, 09/2007, Pakistan Institute of Management
- Parliamentary Services Development Course, 12/2006, US AID
- Workshop for Women Parliamentarians and Politicians, 08/2006, Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development and Transparency
- Legislative Research Training, 07/2006, US AID
Occupational Group
Commerce & Trade Service (36th CTP)
Personal Information
Father's Name: SYED RAHAT ZAFAR
Timeline
Deputy Secretary /Deputy Chief
Ministry of Commerce
04.2024 - Current
Deputy Secretary (CIS) Region
Ministry of Commerce
09.2023 - 04.2024
Deputy Secretary
Ministry of Commerce
02.2020 - 09.2023
Deputy Director
Trade Development Authority of Pakistan
11.2018 - 03.2020
Deputy Director Emerging Pakistan /In charge –EP (Cell)
Ministry of Commerce
11.2018 - 05.2019
Section Officer (Paris Club Wing –EU Desk)
Economic Affairs Division
01.2017 - 05.2018
Deputy Director, Domestic Commerce Wing
Ministry of Commerce
09.2016 - 01.2017
Deputy Secretary Administration
Ministry of Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit Baltistan
08.2015 - 09.2016
Section Officer – Asia Pacific Region – Foreign Trade Wing
Ministry of Commerce, Government of Pakistan
06.2014 - 08.2015
Section Officer–Export
Ministry of Commerce, Government of Pakistan
03.2014 - 06.2014
Section Officer (Admin)
Ministry of Commerce, Government of Pakistan
05.2013 - 03.2014
Section Officer (Africa/ Middle East – Foreign Trade Wing)
Ministry of Commerce, Government of Pakistan
01.2011 - 05.2013
Section Officer, World Trade Organization – WTO Wing
Ministry of Commerce, Government of Pakistan
09.2010 - 01.2011
Assistant Director
Pakistan Institute of Trade & Development, Ministry of Commerce
10.2009 - 09.2010
Research Officer (BS–17)
National Assembly of Pakistan
09.2004 - 01.2009
Officer Grade–II
National Bank of Pakistan
06.2004 - 09.2004
M.B.A. -
Masters - Political Science
B.Sc. -
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