AFGHANISTAN HOLDING GROUP

Chairman: Sanzar Kakar (since Jan 2009, 20141008, 20170712)

Afghanistan Holding Group  (former Afghanistan Financial Services, LLC)

Afghanistan Holding Group is an employee-owned company founded on 1 January 2009 providing inter-related professional business services including taxation, accounting, training and strategic management consulting, monitoring and evaluation, and research. AHG employs more than 110 full-time highly qualified Afghans, calling on an additional pool of high caliber international consultants to provide project specific support. AHG operates from offices in Kabul, Mazar and Herat.

DIVISIONS AFGHANISTAN HOLDING GROUP:

Bios of Staff as of 20170717:

2. Previous Functions Sanzar Kakar:

Graduate Association Manager Wharton Business School Philadelphia, PA (20030800-20050500)
Technology Analyst Merrill Lynch Jersey City, NJ (20040600-20060300)

Executive Advisor to the Attorney General PAE Kabul, Afghanistan (20070700-20110500)

Country Director Acap Partners Kabul, Afghanistan (20060300-20070700)

Technology Analyst Merrill Lynch Jersey City, NJ (20040600-20060300)
Chairman Afghanistan Holding Group (since Jan 2009, 20141008, 20170712)

3. Biodata Sanzar Kakar:

Sanzar Kakar (BSe, MBA) is the Chairman of the Afghanistan Holding Group.  He has over a decade of professional work experience. The Kakar clan is a Pashtun tribe.

Kakar earned his Bachelors of Science in Engineering from the University of Pennsylvania and his Masters in Business Administration from Warwick Business School.

At the University of Pennsylvania, Kakar served as the Manager of the Wharton Graduate Association. Following his undergraduate degree, he worked for Merrill Lynch as a Technology Analyst on a trading desk for bonds and equities, creating a link for automatic reporting to the New York Stock Exchange. Kakar started in Afghanistan as an Investment Associate for Acap Partners, setting up a $20 million venture capital facility and sourcing over 300 new investments for consideration. Kakar joined as an Executive Advisor to the Attorney General's Office of Afghanistan on a U.S. Department of State program to reorganize the institution and setup a nationwide paper and computer criminal case management system spanning 7 justice institutions. Kakar then served as the Economic Advisor for the Afghanistan Investment Climate Facility, setting up operational and fiduciary requirements for the 7 year £30 million grant facility in Kabul, followed by a promotion to Deputy Team Leader.
Kakar speaks English, Pashtu and Dari.

More Bios:

Omar Qargha, Managing Partner

Omar Qargha has worked in Afghanistan since June 2001. Before joining AFS as a Partner, Qargha successfully led the Indiana University team between 2007 and 2010 to develop national standards for teacher education universities for Afghanistan's Ministry of Higher Education. During this same period he developed and implemented an innovative two-year science and math-training program for all the science and math professors in these 18 universities to increase their content knowledge, help them make these subjects relevant to their students, and increase laboratory activities. Qargha led the JBS International team between 2006 and 2007 to develop a national teacher competency and credentialing system for Afghanistan's Ministry of Education. 

Qargha also served as Assistant Director for Help the Afghan Children, a grass-roots organization, from 2001 to 2006. During this time he managed school construction, developed training curriculum, and expanded the organization's programs. Prior to his work in Afghanistan, Omar taught high school sciences in Florida. 

Qargha holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from University of North Florida, a Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction from George Mason University, and a Master of Arts in International Comparative Education from Stanford University's School of Education. Qargha is completing his doctoral degree in International Comparative Education at University of Maryland in College Park. 

Qargha has led large program evaluation programs, including an impact evaluation of seven large project in Afghanistan funded by the United States White House. He has carried out extensive qualitative and quantitative research, published academic papers, and has presented in numerous international conferences on the topics of Afghanistan, research, and education.

Qargha is fluent in English and Dari.

Yasir Shakoor, Director

Yasir Shakoor (ACPA) is one of three Director’s leading AHG’s Afghanistan Financial Services (AFS) division. He has more than six years of professional work experience in Afghanistan and Pakistan. 

Shakoor’s experience includes serving as the Internal Audit Advisor and Lead Trainer for Afghanistan’s Ministry of Finance’s Internal Audit Department (World Bank Audit Training Project), where he developed the legal framework for the application of the internal audit procedures and its implementation for all Afghan government entities. He also led the two-year World Bank Certified Accounting Technician(CAT) building the capacity of more than 70 mid-level employees of MoF working in various different departments. He was the audit supervisor for Rafaqat and Babar- a leading accounting firm in Pakistan and was involved in various statutory and internal audits of private sector companies and the public sector. He has been an ACCA and CAT lecturer in various educational institutes in Afghanistan and Pakistan. 

Shakoor is certified Associate Certified Public Accountant (ACPA) and is completing his ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) certificate.

He is fluent in English, Pashtu, Urdu and Dari.

Masood Faroq, Director

Dr. Masood Faroq (M.D.) is responsible for the leadership of Afghanistan Holding Group’s human resource and administration. He has more than 12 years of experience in Pakistan and Afghanistan. 

Dr. Faroq’s has extensive experience working in various capacities with the Afghan government. His experience includes serving the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MOCI) in the capacities of Institutional Change Adviser, National Adviser, and Program Budget Adviser where he played a central role in helping MOCI establish a new Petroleum Regulation Department with the aim to better regulate and monitor petroleum sector in Afghanistan by identifying PRD responsibilities, drafting TORs, staffing the department, and providing direct support to draft the new Afghanistan Petroleum Supply Law; serving the Ministry of Counter Narcotics as National Advisor where he developed the Ministry’s Human Resource Manual, and prepared quarterly and annual workplans; and serving as a translator on many different projects. 

Dr. Faroq received his Medical Doctorate Degree from Kabul Medical University. Dr. Faroq is fluent in Dari, Pashtu, English and speaks some Urdu.

Muhammad Tawab Nabizada, Manager

Muhammad Tawab Nabizada (FIA) is a Financial Manager for the Afghanistan Holding Group working in the AFS division of the company. He has more than two and half years of professional work experience and is fluent in Dari, Pashto, and speaks English, and Urdu. 

Nabizada has completed his Foundation is Accountancy (FIA) certification from the American University of Afghanistan and is currently working to complete his ACCA certification.

Irfanullah Mateen, Manager

Irfanullah Mateen (BBA, MBA) is a Financial Manager for the Afghanistan Holding Group working in the AFS division of the company. He has more than 3 years of professional work experience. 

Mateen received his Master’s degree in Business Administration with a concentration on Finance, and is Bachelors of Business Administration degree from International Islamic University Islamabad Pakistan. He is fluent in Dari, Pashto, and speaks English and Urdu.

Hakimullah Shakoor, Manager

Hakimullah Shukoor (BA, ACPA) is a Financial Manager for Afghanistan Holding Group (AHG) working in the AFS division of the company. Mr. Shukoor has more than three years of professional experience in private and public sector.

Shukoor earned his Bachelor Degree in Economics from Pune University of India, his Certified Public Accountant certificate from the Institute of Certified Public Accountant of Pakistan and is currently completing his ACCA certification. He is fluent in Pashto, Dari, and speaks Turkish and English.

Ali Sajjad, Manager

Ali Sajjad (CAT, ADIA) is an Audit Manager for the Afghanistan Holding Group working in the AFS division of the company. He has more than one year of professional work experience. 

Ali Sajjad is a Certified Accounting Technician. He received his Advanced Diploma in Accounting from UK. He is currently enrolled in a Bachelors degree in Applied Accounting at Oxford Brooks University and is also completing his ACCA certification. He is fluent in Pashto, Dari, and speaks English and Urdu.

Parwiz Sayedzada, Manager

Sayed Parwiz Sayedzada (DBA, BBA) is the Office Manager for the Afghanistan Holding Group. He has more than four years of professional work experience. 

Sayedzada recieved his Diploma in Business Administration from National Institute of Management and Administration and his Bachelor’s in Business Administration from Maiwand Institute of Higher Education. He is fluent in Pashto, Dari, and speaks English.

Hashmatullah Wali, Manager

Hashmatullah Wali (BBA) is a Financial Analyst for the Afghanistan Holding Group working in the AFS division of the company. He has more than three years of professional work experience. 

Hashmatullah Wali received his Bachelors degree in Business Administration from Dunya Institute for Higher Education.
He is fluent in Dari and Pashto and speaks English and Urdu.

Mrs. Mariam Hashime, Associate

Mariam Hashime (BS) is an Associate for the Afghanistan Holding Group and is in charge of handling the Company’s accounts receivable. She has more than five years of professional work experience. 

Hashime received her Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management from George Mason University.
She is fluent in English and Dari.

Qais Popal, Associate

Mohammad Qais Popal (BA) is a research associate for the Afghanistan Holding Group working in the ARS division. He also supervises the ARS field activities. He has more than 15 years of professional work experience. 

Popal is a graduate from National Military Academy of Afghanistan.
He is fluent in Dari & Pashto, speaks some Urdu and English.

Sher Shah Rahim, Associate

Sher Shah Rahim (BCS) is the Information Technology Officer for the Afghanistan Holding Group. He has more than 3 years of professional work experience. 

Rahim is currently working on his Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science at the American University of Afghanistan.
He is fluent Dari, Pashto and speaks English and Urdu.

Siar Sekandari, Analyst

Siar Sekandari (BBA) is a financial analyst for the Afghanistan Holding Group working in the AFS division of the company. He has more than two years of professional work experience.
Sekandari received his Bachelors degree in Business Administration from The American University of Afghanistan.
He is fluent in Dari, Pashtu and speaks English as well as some French and Urdu. 

Ahmad Omid Bessed, Analyst

Ahmad Omid Bessed (BBA) is a Financial Analyst for the Afghanistan Holding Group working in the AFS division of the company. He has more than four and a half years of professional work experience. 

Bessed received his Bachelors degree in Business Administration from Kardan University of Higher Education.
He is fluent in Dari & Pashto and speaks English.

Mrs. Binazir Rastegar, Analyst

Binazir Rastegar (BBA), is a Financial Analyst for the Afghanistan Holding Group in the AFS division of the company. She has more than three years of professional work experience. 

Rastegar is currently finishing her BBA in Esteqlal Institute of Higher Education.
She is fluent in Dari and speaks English.

Mrs. Hamida Totakhail, Analyst

Hamida Totakhail (BA) is a Financial Analyst for the Afghanistan Holding Group working in the AFS division of the company. She has more than 3 years of professional work experience.

Totakhail received her Bachelor’s degree in Social Sciences from Kabul University.
She is fluent in Dari and Pashto, and speaks English.

Mrs. Farkhunda Salehi, Analyst

Farkhunda Salehi (DBA) is a Financial Analyst for the Afghanistan Holding Group working in the AFS division of the company. She has more than 2 years of professional work experience. 

Salehi earned her Diploma in Business Administration from Afghanistan Technical and Vocational Institute.
She is fluent in Dari and speaks English and Pashto

Javed Gulzada, Analyst

Javed Gulzada (DBA) is a Financial Analyst for the Afghanistan Holding Group working in the AFS division of the company. He has more than a year of professional work experience. 

Gulzada received his Diploma in Business Administration from (National Institute of Management and Administration and is currently completing his ACCA qualifications. He is fluent in Dari and Pashto, and speaks English.

More Background:
Afghanistan Financial Services, LLC (AFS) is a privately held company registered in Afghanistan and the United States. The team members consist of over 15 multi-lingual professionals include affiliates of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA). AFS provided accounting, audit and advisory services to clients in Afghanistan. Accounting services include taxation, payroll and business setup. Auditing services include financial reviews and reports as well as technical audits evaluating performance. Advisory services include surveys, assessments, management consulting, and government projects.