Consul General Biography

Before his posting to Sydney, he was the Director General Trade Policy in the Ministry of Commerce & Textile (2017-19), where he was instrumental in significant policy reforms – development of the (draft) Strategic Trade Policy Framework 2020-25, the National Tariff Policy, Trade-Related Investment Policy Framework and an extensive plan of tariff rationalization. Concurrently, serving as Chief Executive Officer of Pakistan Horticulture Development & Export Company, he was responsible for turning around a dormant company into a vibrant public-sector business support organization. Earlier, he represented Pakistan as Commercial Counselor in the Kingdom of the Netherlands (2008-12), where his pioneering work in introducing Pakistan’s nontraditional export products in the Dutch market was taught as a case study for many years by the famous Dutch organization, CBI Netherlands.

During 2006 to 2008, serving as Director General Trade Organisations, he played a key role in drafting the Trade Organisations Act and Trade Organisations Rules and establishment of a new organisation (Directorate General of Trade Organisations) for regulating the chambers and trade associations in Pakistan. Earlier in his career he served in Export Promotion Bureau Lahore and Karachi (1999-2005). Before joining the civil service in 1996, he remained an educator and served in a variety of pedagogic jobs at school, college and university. He also served as a sub-editor for a brief span with one of the leading media houses of Pakistan.

Muhammad Ashraf holds Masters’ Degrees in Business Administration and English Literature from University of the Punjab, Lahore. He is a prolific writer and regularly contributes Op-Eds on trade and economy to the leading national dailies in Pakistan. He has been a resource person at various academic institutions in Pakistan, including Civil Services Academy, Pakistan Institute of Trade and Development, National School of Public Policy, Foreign Service Academy and Information Service Academy.

He is married to Fouzia, a fellow civil servant and Pakistan’s Trade-Minister in Jakarta, and has two children.