BAKHTIAR IQBAL

Bakhtiar is an economic development and climate policy professional with nearly six years of experience spanning economic research, public policy, urban development, international development, and programme development. He currently works with WWF Pakistan, where he leads programme development and collaborates closely with senior leadership on strategic partnerships, project development, and resource mobilization.

He holds an MSc in Local Economic Development from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) and a BSc (Hons) in Economics from Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS). His academic background and multidisciplinary professional experience inform his understanding of the connections between economic policy, institutional development, and international development.

Before joining WWF Pakistan, Bakhtiar worked with the Consortium for Development Policy Research (CDPR) and The Urban Unit, contributing to initiatives in SME policy, education reform, regional development, spatial planning, and urban development. At WWF Pakistan, his work has extended across climate policy, sustainable development, infrastructure, sustainable finance, and programme development. He has also contributed to partnerships involving organizations such as USAID, FCDO, UNDP, the World Bank, and international WWF offices.

At Counselion, Bakhtiar advises students on graduate admissions, helping them understand their academic and professional strengths, identify suitable programmes, and develop compelling applications aligned with their long term ambitions. Drawing on his own experience across economics, development, public policy, and international graduate education, he is particularly well placed to guide applicants whose interests span multiple disciplines and whose experiences need to be brought together into a clear academic and professional direction.

His advisory work encompasses university and programme selection, applicant profile development, academic and career positioning, personal statements, CVs, application strategy, and interview preparation. He places particular emphasis on authenticity and coherence, helping students articulate not only what they have accomplished, but also how their experiences, intellectual interests, and future aspirations connect. Rather than treating applications as a collection of separate documents, his approach focuses on developing a consistent and credible narrative that reflects each applicant's individual trajectory.

Having studied at both LUMS and LSE before building a multidisciplinary career in Pakistan's development sector, Bakhtiar brings an understanding of the academic and professional considerations that shape graduate education decisions. He is especially interested in helping students connect their educational choices with meaningful long term career goals and present their experiences with clarity, distinction, and purpose.