Draft:Dr. Muhammad Abdul Saboor (Ph.D.)

Dr. Muhammad Abdul Saboor (Ph.D.)

Dr. Muhammad Abdul Saboor, currently serving as the CEO of Lodhran Pilot Project (LPP), is a seasoned development professional with over 30 years of hands-on experience in WASH, Sports management, Disaster risk management, Governance, Human rights ,Child protection, Women empowerment, Safeguarding, Gender based violence (GBV) and Countering violence extremism (CVE). He did his Ph.D. in Political Science, his research focuses on internal democracy of political parties. Saboor is member of RSH National Expert Board, SRHR South & Central Asian Hub, besides this he is one of the most vibrant specialists of Community Engagement Exchange (CEE) program 2023.

Educational Background:

His academic journey culminated in the completion of a Ph.D. in Political Science in 2018, title of his research was "DE-CONSTRUCTING THE ENIGMA OF POLITICAL PARTIES IN PAKISTAN". He picked all three leading parties i.e. PPP, PMLN and PTI for his thesis, emphasizing his dedication to advancing knowledge in the field and contributing valuable insights to the discourse on political processes and governance in Pakistan.

Earlier, he did his MPhil in Political Science from Bahauddin Zakariya University (BZU), delving into the intricacies of political structures and dynamics. Dr. Saboor also holds an LLB degree from Multan Law College, showcasing his foundational understanding of legal principles and human rights.

In 1996, he was awarded an advance diploma in disaster management from Asian Institute of Technology Bangkok. He started his quest for education from Shehwar Model School, Multan and Govt. Muslim High School Multan.

Professional Achievements:

Dr. Saboor significantly transformed the Lodhran Pilot Project (LPP) from a local initiative into an internationally recognized non-governmental organization (NGO). Under his visionary leadership, LPP has expanded its thematic priorities, increased its geographical coverage to 11 districts from 3, and grown its financial portfolio nearly 300-folds.

Notably, LPP has achieved remarkable success in making the Bahawalpur, Muzaffargarh and Jhang districts as open defecation-free. The organization established 77 community flood disaster resilience structures in the field areas. LPP is transforming the communities through behavior change communication campaigns and social mobilization in 11 districts. It has benefitted above 4.2 million people in past 25 years. LPP aimed at a just society through empowerment of communities. Dr. Saboor also spearheaded the flood response in 2022-23 and led team LPP in a prolonged response to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021, when they facilitated 18000 families with ration and protection equipment.

Dr. Saboor has been an impactful representative of Pakistan in the US based CEE Program since 2023 as a specialist, where he played a crucial role in mentoring individuals from five countries, fostering international collaboration and knowledge exchange related with community engagements.

LPP's initiatives for women’s empowerment are particularly commendable when they support youth with the provision of bike under “Taalu-e-Sahar” program besides starting new economic activities like introduction of honey bee farming and creating more safe spaces for girls in sports. Under his leadership LPP was pioneer in starting first ever "women’s cricket league of South", which has yielded two girls cricket academies in South Punjab in recent years.

Another significant contribution of Saboor's leadership was initiation of the “Green Clean Program In Lodhran and other districts of LPP”. This initiative aimed at addressing the effects of climate change phenomena in southern part of Pakistan. He pioneered establishing urban forest in South Punjab, LPP has developed three urban forests in Lodhran, Multan, and Rajanpur, covering 30 acres of land and having thousands of trees. This initiative is an exemplary model of public-private partnerships.

Dr. Saboor is working for social change for many years, during 2016-18 he served as the head of the Country Coordination Unit Pakistan based at Plan International . He led the Pakistan component of the South Asian Wash Results Program (SAWRP) . Under the SAWRP, he led the consortium consist of WaterAid Pakistan, Unilever Pakistan, Plan International Pakistan as well as five local partners. The SAWRP was first 100% payment by results program, funded by UKAID. Saboor played an important role in making 10 districts of Pakistan Open Defecation Free through diverse strategy of Behavior Change Communications (BCC) tools and Pakistan Approach to Total Sanitation (PATS).

Earlier in 2014-15, Dr. Saboor led the Punjab component of the Pakistan Transition Initiative Project implemented by the Creative Associates International. Through this initiative , he played a crucial role in developing & implementing 148 grants with local universities, youth, civil society organizations, communities, sports associations, and the private sector. These grants focused on enhancing the capacity of youth to combat violent extremism in their communities. The initiative saw various competitions such as sports, speech, essay writing & creative rights etc. and the helped in developing community structures and narratives to counter violent extremism in the society in the form of local community structures, societies, comic books, TV series like Burka Avenger’s, training manuals, books, and articles etc. All these aimed at equipping youth to address such challenges.

Saboor briefly worked for the Punjab Information Commission in 2016 and helped commission to address pending complaints related with RTI law in Punjab.

Throughout his career, Dr. Saboor has been a staunch advocate for marginalized people and communities. He was a founding member of the Pattan Development Organization in 1992 and has been actively involved in campaigns for marginalized groups since then. He was instrumental in organizing International Women’s Day (IWD) celebrations in Multan from 1998-2007, which were the largest gatherings of women in the country on that time, drawing around 9,000 participants annually. The event were to review that status of women in Pakistan society and draw resolves for next year. These events led to contribute in significant female representation in local government, parliament and national political structures in post 2001.

Dr. Saboor also played a pivotal role in advocating for Mukhtaran Mai following the infamous gang rape incident in Jatoi, helping her secure justice from courts. Alongside Mr. Rashid Rehman- head of Human Rights Task Force Multan, he remained a leading human rights activist and defender, who facilitated hundreds of victims of violence against women, religious minorities facing discrimination, and persons with disabilities.

Dr. Saboor has also been associated with the Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) since 2006 where he remains one of the Key Master Trainers, Program Manager and led content developers. He also played an instrumental role in election observation of 2008 election when FAFEN deployed 19000 plus field based election observers.

Saboor joined Citizen Voice Project (CVP), funded by USAID in 2011 which aimed to strengthen the voices of marginalized segments of society. During his tenure program team evaluated 130 project proposal of civil societies organizations from all over Pakistan. He also developed Program thematic areas in CVP.

Dr. Saboor started his career in the aftermaths of flood response of 1992 with Oxfam Pakistan , later on the team of staff and volunteers working with Oxfam has formed Pattan Development Organization one of the leading NGO of Pakistan. He was one of the founding members of the Pattan in 1993. He worked as a national Field Coordinator in Pattan for a decade.

Dr. Saboor's contributions have had a profound and lasting impact on the communities he has served, demonstrating his unwavering commitment to social justice and community development.

Sports Related Endeavors:

In addition to his developmental experience as a sports organizer and executive, Dr. Saboor has also achieved success in sports. He has played instrumental by establishing SPCA(Southern Punjab Cricket Association) in 2021 in his 2 years tenure with PCB.

He served as a Senior Vice President of Multan District Cricket Association in 2010-11, when the team qualified for Grade-I, first-class round after many years. He has also nurtured local talent in the region and played major national club cricket competitions.

Dr. Saboor served as captain and Secretary General of Tariq Cricket Club Multan (the oldest club in Pakistan since 1948) for 6 and 8 years, respectively.

Moreover, he represented Multan division in national U-19 championships, colleges, and university teams from 1987-1998 and represented local clubs in the 2nd division league in the UK in 2005 & 2008.

Furthermore, Dr. Saboor has organized and funded various sports events, including the 4th National Fatima Jinnah Girl's Hockey Cup Multan 2015, UJ Exhibition Match Pakistan Whites VS Multan Region at Multan Region 2015, Regional Hockey Tournament Bahawalpur 2014, National Rugby League in Lodhran 2014, South Punjab Football League in Multan 2015, and Street Children's Football with Right to Play Lahore.

Additionally, he has successfully implemented women-led peace-building initiatives through cricket in South Punjab, forming 8 women's cricket teams in universities and 3 girls' teams at school levels.

Leadership and Capacity Building:

Dr. Saboor has played a pivotal role in nurturing leadership skills among young leaders in Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), contributing to the development of a new generation of dynamic and capable leaders. His impactful leadership extends to managing more than 138 grants designed for young individuals, transforming them into inspiring leaders through mentorship and support.

In engagement with local government representatives, Dr. Saboor has been a driving force in empowering over 3000 women counselors. This demonstrates his commitment to gender inclusivity and creating opportunities for women to actively participate and lead in local governance structures. His efforts contribute to fostering a more diverse and inclusive political landscape.

Gender Mainstreaming and Empowerment:

Dr. Muhammad Abdul Saboor has been a catalyst for positive change in promoting gender equality and creating safe spaces:

Established Gender-Conducive Environments:

Dr. Saboor has actively worked towards establishing gender-conducive environments within organizations. His efforts aim to foster inclusivity and equal opportunities, ensuring that workplaces are supportive and empowering for individuals of all genders.

Founded a Toll-Free Helpline for GBV Victims in Lodhran:

Recognizing the pressing need for addressing gender-based violence (GBV), Dr. Saboor took a proactive step by founding a toll-free helpline for GBV victims in Lodhran. This helpline serves as a crucial resource, providing free legal and psychological aid to bridge the gap between vulnerable communities and women protection departments, contributing significantly to the fight against GBV.

Government Engagement:

Dr. Muhammad Abdul Saboor has actively engaged with key government bodies and initiatives:

Engaged with Child Protection & Welfare Bureau (CPWB) and Women Protection Centers:

Dr. Saboor has collaborated with crucial government bodies such as the Child Protection & Welfare Bureau and Women Protection Centers. His involvement demonstrates a commitment to working closely with governmental agencies addressing child welfare and women's protection, contributing to the overall well-being of vulnerable individuals.

Introduced Child Protection Protocols to PCB and SPCA:

Recognizing the importance of child protection, Dr. Saboor has introduced vital child protection protocols to prominent sports organizations, including the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the Southern Punjab Cricket Association (SPCA). His initiatives aim to create safe environments for young athletes, emphasizing the significance of safeguarding in sports.

Global Engagement:

Dr. Saboor has actively facilitated sessions on critical international agendas such as the Beijing +10 agenda and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). These sessions contribute to raising awareness and promoting discussions on gender equality and women's rights, aligning with global efforts for positive change. He earned 02 community development sort courses certificates from the university of Glasgow Scotland UK, one of the major research-led universities globally. He received certificate from Asian Institute of technology Bangkok on Disaster Management and Rehabilitation. The course was offered by the Asian Disaster Preparedness Centre. Moreover he led delegation of 15 program team members of South Asia WASH Results Program (SAWRP) to attend reflection workshop in UK. Objective was to share lessons learning of the 05 years program, successes of first 100% payment by results approach, key achievements and recommendations for the future programing for DFID. In 2004, led a delegation of 5 members  to India and observed National Election of India to know about electronic voting mechanisms, complete election process, concerns and issues of the key stakeholders during election met with political parties leadership, Election Commission of India, media and election observation groups etc. Furthermore, He led 29-member delegation of Pakistani local government representatives in India for study tour of Indian local government system in 2005, they visited seven states and met with Indian union ministers; state chief minister, thinker and local government representatives.

Publications and Analysis:

Dr. Muhammad Abdul Saboor has contributed significantly to academic and research domains:

As a thought leader and advocate, Dr. Saboor has published insightful works on various topics, including the importance of political parties, the challenges faced by women counselors,and contributions to International Women's Day. His expertise as an experienced election observer for both general and local government elections in Pakistan and India underscores his commitment to fostering transparent and fair electoral processes.

Dr. Saboor has authored and published valuable work focusing on the dynamics of the 'NEW ELECTED GOVERNMENT AND SOUTH PUNJAB.'This work likely provides insightful analysis and perspectives on the impact and opportunities for South Punjab under the newly elected government.

Dr. Saboor's research portfolio includes major studies on crucial topics such as extremism, and the intricate nature of political parties in Pakistan. These research efforts contribute to a deeper understanding of these complex issues, providing valuable insights for both academic and practical applications.

Devolved Service Delivery in Pakistan in 2003 with Asian Development Bank, World Bank and Department for International Development. (REPORT NO. 29912-PK WORLD BANK)

Dr. Saboor's diverse experience and commitment have significantly impacted Pakistan's socio-political fabric, addressing challenges in youth and women's empowerment, development, and electoral processes.