Yar Taraky - Background

Background

Yar M. Taraky MAA, MASc, P. Eng.

Yar M. Taraky is a well known Afghan intellectual and is active in the political, cultural and education sectors. He was born in Ghazni province of Afghanistan Yar M. Taraky has been in the intellectual scene of Afghanistan for the past 20 years. His contribution to the reconstruction strategies through his recommendations to the Afghan Government, Canadian and USA Government are indication of his bright vision for the future of Afghanistan and the whole region. In 2006 along with a group of dedicated Afghan and Pakistani intellectuals Yar Taraky has established a policy and research think- tank group called – Pashtun Research Policy and Advocacy Centre (PRAP Center). Between 2006 and 2008 Yar Taraky has authored several articles and recommendations to the Afghan and Canadian governments (including the Liberal and Conservative Governments) that outlined policy and strategic road maps on Afghanistan and the region. Since the fall of Taliban Yar Taraky visited Afghanistan numerous times. He was invited as a consultant by UNESCO, Afghan Communicator and other agencies in providing capacity building programs and seminars in Kabul, Herat and Jalal Abad. Yar Taraky holds a Master degree in Engineering economics, a Master degree in arts and Bachelor degree in international relations. He is currently a research and study member at the Institute of Globalization and Human Condition – McMaster University. His previous experience in Afghanistan includes working at the Academy of Science of Afghanistan. Yar has worked for Stantec Consulting Ltd. in Canada since 1999. He has completed over 30 small and large infrastructure projects in Afghanistan and Canada. Yar Taraky has worked as one of the Directors of the Afghanistan Investment Climate Facility (AICF) Harakat, responsible for proposal management and evaluation for funding. He was heavily involved in the Afghanistan private sector related reforms such as Land lease Reform, Licensing Reform, Construction Permit Reform and a number of initiatives dedicated to the private sector growth in Afghanistan. Yar Taraky current assignment is the Managing Director of the Dehsabz New City within the Kabul New City project. This project is the largest undertaken by any Afghan Government ever. The Kabul New City is being supported by the Government of Afghanistan and Government of Japan. Yar Taraky continues to work as AICF-Harakat consultant in regards to the Afghan Standards and Afghanistan Building Codes Development.

His cultural involvement includes mentoring art professionals, contribution into the art and culture by leading workshops, training sessions, intellectual and art related discussions and a number performed projects in the area of entrepreneurship and establishment of enterprises for art related industries in Afghanistan and abroad. Yar Taraky has been interviewed by BBC, CBC and Voice of America and a number of Afghan media regarding Afghanistan’s current political and economic situation. He is one of the most perceptible immigrant cultural professionals in Canada.