Vaqar Zakaria has over 40 years’ experience in energy and environmental management in Pakistan and in the region. His professional focus has been on business policy and strategy evaluation, planning of energy production and distribution systems, energy pricing, demand forecasting, and environmental assessment of energy projects. With private sector firms, he has been extensively involved in power, and oil and gas infrastructure projects, including conceptual planning, engineering and project management. He has assisted the Planning Commission, energy ministries, state owned utilities, the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, and the private sector in the development of energy infrastructure, policies to promote investment in the energy sector, and in formulating short and long-term energy plans. He played a key role in setting up Hagler Bailly Pakistan in 1990, where he continues to oversee all organizational matters. He has also been instrumental in establishing the Himalayan Wildlife Foundation, an NGO active in setting up national parks and assisting the communities and government in management of the protected areas. He holds Bachelors and Master’s degrees in Chemical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), USA. He joined the EPQL Board in 2008.

He also serves on the board of Hagler Bailly Pakistan, (Managing Director), Pakistan Foundation Fighting Blindness, (Member Board of Trustees), Elengy Terminal Pakistan Limited, Islamabad Wildlife Management Board and Engro Powergen Qadirpur Limited.