Muhammad Omar Masud, Chief Executive Officer, Urban Unit

Muhammad Omar Masud leads the Urban Unit, Punjab’s data-driven policy and design think tank within government, and brings to that role a rare combination of academic depth and civil service experience. He completed his PhD at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in urban and regional planning and holds a Master of Public Policy from Princeton University. His work at the Urban Unit focuses on using spatial data and technology to develop local implementation strategies for the environmental and infrastructure challenges that come with Pakistan’s rapid urbanisation. Under his leadership, the Urban Unit has been deeply involved in the development of Lahore’s Climate Action Plan, collaborating with WWF Pakistan on water, hydrology, and biodiversity data, and setting a precedent for participatory climate planning that aligns local solutions with global climate goals. He has been a vocal speaker on air quality and environmental governance, engaging directly with provincial government and civil society on what it will take to make Punjab’s cities livable and sustainable. His approach treats climate adaptation not as a separate policy domain but as something that must be embedded in how cities are planned, financed, and managed.