Tahira Raza

Tahira Raza is a distinguished banker with an MBA in Banking and Finance from IBA Karachi. She demonstrated academic excellence early in her career by securing the 7th position nationwide and earning a Distinction in Practice & Law of Banking in 1980. Tahira brings a wealth of experience in corporate governance, leadership, and project management, with specialized expertise in risk, credit, human resource management, audit, trade finance, and general banking.

Tahira was appointed as the President and CEO of First Women Bank in Pakistan in 2014, where she served for 4.5 years. Before her tenure at First Women Bank, she broke new ground at the National Bank of Pakistan (NBP), becoming the first woman to hold the prestigious position of Senior Executive Vice President and Head of the Risk Management Group in NBP’s 70-year history. Her leadership and contributions to the banking sector were recognized in 2006 when she received the Women Banker of the Year award from the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FPCCI).

Beyond her executive roles, Tahira is actively involved in supporting the community and fostering economic development. She serves as a trustee of the Senior Citizen Welfare Trust Sindh (SCWTS), is a member of the Karachi Council on Foreign Relations (KCFR) and is currently serving on the boards of Habib Metropolitan Bank Ltd and Safco Microfinance Company Pvt Ltd. Recently, she was also appointed as a member of the board for Pakistan International Airlines. Earlier, she had also served on the boards of Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL), APNA Microfinance Bank Ltd, and Saudi Pak Insurance Company Ltd.

She is a passionate advocate for the promotion of SMEs and Women’s Empowerment, working as a freelance supporter in these vital areas.

Besides her professional commitments as a member of boards and various civil society groups, Tahira is an avid golfer, loves to cook and entertain, and enjoys listening to Eastern music. Her hobbies keep her amusingly busy and socially engaged with her friends, family, and like-minded people from different walks of life.