Farooq Cheema

Proposal |
Project Management | Stakeholder Management | Trainings/Skill
Development
• Provide strategic advisory services in strategic planning, proposal development, emerging
technologies, project management, stakeholder coordination and skill development.
• Expertise in proposal/PC-I development, grant writing and project management for
PSDP/donor funded projects and bilateral/multilateral assistance programs.
• Manage public sector procurements, including RFP development, technical evaluation and
contract administration.
• Design and deliver capacity-building and skills development programs for institutions and
professionals.
• Support international partnerships, donor coordination, and multi-stakeholder engagement for
technology-driven development projects.

• Supervised end-to-end delivery of a USD 57m+ (PKR 16b) government-funded digital
transformation program, covering large-scale IT procurement, setup of 7 AI/ML Labs and 5
advanced Software R&D Centers, and rollout of online training programs in emerging
technologies.
• Directed day-to-day program operations, including budget control, financial reporting,
procurement & contract management, and team building & leadership, ensuring on-time and
compliant execution.
• Managed complex procurement cycles with full audit trails, vendor coordination, and contract
governance to ensure transparency, accountability, and regulatory compliance.
• Worked closely with senior stakeholders, partners, and vendors to conduct periodic reviews,
track KPIs, and drive continuous improvement.
• Implemented M&E frameworks, enabling accelerated issue resolution and risk mitigation.

• Led international partnerships and donor coordination for Pakistans ICT sector, working with
major
multilateral, inter-governmental, and private-sector organizations including World Bank, ADB,
UNDP, ITU, GSMA, JICA, and Google to advance digital policy, infrastructure, and innovation
intensive initiatives.
• Developed and negotiated foreign-funded initiatives and collaboration frameworks (G2G, G2B,
B2B)
covering ICT infrastructure development, capacity building, policy reform, digital FDI,
entrepreneurship, startup ecosystems, HR export, and ease of doing business.
• Strengthened government-industry-academia collaboration by coordinating with P@SHA,
PSEB, PITB, Ignite, HEC, OEC, line ministries and leading IT universities to design and
implement internationally funded ICT training programs aligned with global market demand.

• Provided ICT project management consulting & training services to the corporate sector.
• Designed and implemented intl best practices, standard project management methodology,
Result Based Management (RBM) framework and employed effective processes, tools and
techniques such as S-Curve, CPM, EVM, WBS and PDM etc. for efficient project handling.
• Developed RFPs, proposals, tender documents and cost estimates/budgets and evaluated
proposals and managed various on-going projects.
• Clients include Pakistan Mobile Communications (Mobilink), RasGas Qatar, COMSATS, NUST,
RDF etc.

• Supervised various on-going ICT projects and youth skill development programs, proactively
monitored their progress and ensured that they fully meet their cost, quality, scope and
schedule targets.
• Developed and presented proposals/PC-I for various funding opportunities/public
tenders/projects including supply of biometric verification and electronic voting machines to
the Election Commission of Pakistan.
• Coordinated with all the line ministries, government/non-government departments and
agencies for the smooth execution of projects.

• Led and managed planning, developmental, financial and operational aspects of functions
performed by TEVTA and monitored the performance of over 370 field formations spread all
across Punjab.
• Designed and implemented standard project management methodology/Intl best practices
and employed effective tools and techniques for smooth and efficient project handling.
• Developed proposals/PC-I for the establishment of new institutes and launched several new
training programs.
• Managed procurements and prepared budgets/cost estimates for training programs and
institutes annual repairs/maintenance activities
• Devised and implemented a comprehensive monitoring plan to collect accurate data in real
time, pertaining to the performance of over 370 TEVTA institutes, on-going training programs
including regular diploma /DAE programs and Industry Demand Driven short courses being run
under public-private partnerships and stipend disbursement project.
• Coordinated for the efficient execution of various programs, funded by Punjab Skill
Development Fund and NAVTTC and revitalized partnerships with Intl/local agencies including
Chief Minister Secretariat/Planning & Development Department/Microsoft/ City&Guild/World
Bank/ GIZ /JICA etc.

• Developed proposals, outlining technical aspects including study design, research methodology
and project plan as well as the associated cost/budget for various intl as well as local
donors/implementing agencies, meeting/exceeding the clients requirements as given in their
ToRs/Contract.
• Provided overall coordination with key stakeholders/clients including DFID, USAID, FAO, JAICA,
UNDP, UNICEF, GIZ, USF and SDC etc.
• Explored partnership/collaboration opportunities with other research firms and negotiated
terms & conditions of MOU/contract.
• The studies include baseline/end line/impact assessments, third party M&E services, capacity
building, feasibility studies, economic/physical infrastructure rehabilitation assessments,
market studies, Engineering/ICT/Telecom and project management related studies.

• Supervised a number of R&D projects that include proposal of E-Enabled Subject Support
Program for rural areas of Pakistan, optimization of campus-wide network, setting up ERP
(Management Information System) and establishment of 132 TF GPU based High Performance
Computing facility
• Planned and monitored over 90 R&D projects being carried out at NUST in collaboration with
Intl/local donor agencies.
• Prepared proposals/strategic plans and implemented standard project management
methodology and processes and employed effective tools and techniques for smooth and
efficient project handling.
• Taught different courses at under-grad/post-grad degree levels, that include Data
Communication, Telecommunication systems, Networking, System Engineering, Basic Electrical
Engineering, Project Management and Telecom Policy & Regulations.

• Planned and managed large scale public procurements that involves identifying budget,
preparing functional, performance and technical specifications, interacting with vendors,
preparing Request for Proposal (RFP), evaluating proposals, selecting vendor, negotiating and
administrating the contract
• Projects assigned to me include VHF/UHF radio systems, Microwave radio, Digital Trunk Radio
(TETRA/ APCO 25), Vessel Tracking Systems, TCP/IP, Optical networks, CCTV & Surveillance
systems, and VSAT, Location Based Systems, Mobile Positioning and Video Conferencing
systems.

• Prepared initial feasibility/CAPEX/OPEX reports, strategic plans and white papers on emerging
technologies like Direct-To-Home (DTH) services, Tele-porting, IPTV, LMDS, MMDS, Conditional
Access System, Interactive TV, Triple Play and HDTV.
• Prepared SOQs, IFBs, TORs, RFPs/RFQs/RFIs for the establishment of FM radio, DTH & MMDS in
Pakistan.
• Evaluated/short listed proposals, supervised bidding events and public hearings and negotiated
terms of the final contract/license.
• Drafted QOS standards for Cable TV and FM radio and implemented monitoring system for
compliance of those standards.
• Coordinated with Frequency Allocation Board for assignment of appropriate spectrum to the
license-holders according to the ITU/ PTA recommendations.

• Developed and delivered training workshops for professionals under Cisco Networking Training
Program.
• Trained networking professionals under Cisco Networking Academy Program.
• Prepared corporate turnkey solutions and tender documents including detailed technical
drawings, bill of quantities (BOQ/BOM) and project management methodologies in response to
NADRAs RFP for the establishment of nation-wide WAN based on V-SAT and SDH. Similar kind
of project was undertaken for Frequency Allocation Board (FAB).