Node Members
Puruesh Chaudhary
Director SAFN Pakistan
Dr. Salma Malik
Senior Fellow
Dr. Saad Liaquat Kiani
Senior Fellow
Laraib Farhat
Associate Fellow
Director SAFN Pakistan
Puruesh Chaudhary
Director SAFN Pakistan
Puruesh Chaudhary is a futures researcher, development and strategic communication professional. She has a professional master’s degree in International Negotiation and Policymaking from Institut De Hautes Études Internationales Et Du Développement in Geneva. Her work mostly involves foresight research, knowledge-collaborations and content intelligence.
She has worked with multilateral donors and aid agencies, news organizations and multinationals in Pakistan. She is the Founder and President of AGAHI, a non-governmental organization, which works extensively on creating platforms based on knowledge collaboration and information sharing initiatives. Pakistan Foresight Initiative, brainchild of of AGAHI is developing frameworks to improve policymaking and strategic narratives; structures enabling legislators, strategists, academicians and the community developing shared understanding for effective implementation of decisions. She has produced foresight research compilation on the Future of Pakistan up to 2060 and is a published authored for ‘The Future of Business’ a critical insight on rapidly changing world. Championing “Shaping the future of journalism”, Chaudhary has co-founded Pakistan’s annual journalism awards (The Agahi Awards); content analysis framework (Media Credibility Index and Ethical Media Audit); created foresight research fellowship opportunities; and developed academic-industry linkages.
The Center of International Media Ethics’ honored her to serve as its Ambassador to Pakistan campaigning for quality journalism in the country. She is currently Member Board of Advisors for CIME and is a Mentor for UN-Habitat Youth Fund Programme. She continues to train and mentor journalists all across Pakistan on values and ethics. Chaudhary is the youngest Alumnae at the National Defence University in Pakistan and has also been recognized as a Global Shaper by the World Economic Forum. She is an ASPEN Alumni, a member of the World Futures Society and is on the Planning Committee of the Millennium-Project (Global Futures Studies and Research) representing the Pakistan Chair.
She has worked with multilateral donors and aid agencies, news organizations and multinationals in Pakistan. She is the Founder and President of AGAHI, a non-governmental organization, which works extensively on creating platforms based on knowledge collaboration and information sharing initiatives. Pakistan Foresight Initiative, brainchild of of AGAHI is developing frameworks to improve policymaking and strategic narratives; structures enabling legislators, strategists, academicians and the community developing shared understanding for effective implementation of decisions. She has produced foresight research compilation on the Future of Pakistan up to 2060 and is a published authored for ‘The Future of Business’ a critical insight on rapidly changing world. Championing “Shaping the future of journalism”, Chaudhary has co-founded Pakistan’s annual journalism awards (The Agahi Awards); content analysis framework (Media Credibility Index and Ethical Media Audit); created foresight research fellowship opportunities; and developed academic-industry linkages.
The Center of International Media Ethics’ honored her to serve as its Ambassador to Pakistan campaigning for quality journalism in the country. She is currently Member Board of Advisors for CIME and is a Mentor for UN-Habitat Youth Fund Programme. She continues to train and mentor journalists all across Pakistan on values and ethics. Chaudhary is the youngest Alumnae at the National Defence University in Pakistan and has also been recognized as a Global Shaper by the World Economic Forum. She is an ASPEN Alumni, a member of the World Futures Society and is on the Planning Committee of the Millennium-Project (Global Futures Studies and Research) representing the Pakistan Chair.
Fellows at SAFN
Dr. Salma Malik
Dr. Salma Malik is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Defence and Strategic Studies, Quaid-I-Azam University, Islamabad Pakistan. She specializes in the areas of War, Arms Control & Disarmament, Military Sociology, South Asian Affairs and the research areas include; Conflict Management & Transformation, Human Security, CBMs & Conventional Disarmament.
Prior to joining QAU, she worked as a Research Officer at the Institute of Strategic Studies, Islamabad, Pakistan from June 1996 to August 1999. She has also been on the Visiting Faculty list of the Intelligence Bureau Directorate and has rendered lectures as a guest speaker at the National Defence University, Islamabad, PAF Air War College, Karachi, PN War College, Lahore as well as Command & Staff College, Quetta, Foreign Service Training Academy, NUST and Fatima Jinnah Women University, Rawalpindi.
She has rendered her expertise as an anchor and expert both in various current affairs programs. Dr. Salma Malik has many publications to her credit and has co-authored books including Small Arms and the Security Debate in South Asia, RCSS Policy Studies, Manohar Publications, (2005). She has edited a book on Pakistan’s Security Problems and Challenges in the Next Decade, published by NUST publishers, (2015). She is widely traveled and has attended numerous international and national conferences. (List annexed) Dr Malik is on the advisory as well as review board of leading National and International Journals as well as Research Review Committees of various Universities.
Prior to joining QAU, she worked as a Research Officer at the Institute of Strategic Studies, Islamabad, Pakistan from June 1996 to August 1999. She has also been on the Visiting Faculty list of the Intelligence Bureau Directorate and has rendered lectures as a guest speaker at the National Defence University, Islamabad, PAF Air War College, Karachi, PN War College, Lahore as well as Command & Staff College, Quetta, Foreign Service Training Academy, NUST and Fatima Jinnah Women University, Rawalpindi.
She has rendered her expertise as an anchor and expert both in various current affairs programs. Dr. Salma Malik has many publications to her credit and has co-authored books including Small Arms and the Security Debate in South Asia, RCSS Policy Studies, Manohar Publications, (2005). She has edited a book on Pakistan’s Security Problems and Challenges in the Next Decade, published by NUST publishers, (2015). She is widely traveled and has attended numerous international and national conferences. (List annexed) Dr Malik is on the advisory as well as review board of leading National and International Journals as well as Research Review Committees of various Universities.
Dr. Saad Liaquat Kiani
Saad is a currently the Chief Technology Officer at SOFTOO, a Brillanz Group company. His
primary responsibilities include managing the company’s technology vision and direction, its
product portfolio, large-scale IT solutions design and pre-scales activities with key commercial
accounts. His technical work has focused on designing large-scale data processing, system
integration, process automation, digital transformation, social media communication, and data
analytics systems. Over the past decade, he has led the design, development and deployment
of some of the largest data processing systems in Pakistan. The solutions - deployed in defense
and public sector organizations - play a critical role in public safety and national security
domains.
A significant focus of his work has been on leveraging technology and digital interventions in healthcare, transport, education, e-governance, security and public safety domains, in order to improve the efficiencies of everyday processes that impact societies and quality of life. His keen interest in technology’s impact on society and how it effects the way people live overlaps with the pillars of futures studies. He has collaborated with futurists in order to develop tooks for the systemic processes of undertaking futures studies, worked with the Millennium Project, and is the core member of the team that developed the digital Foresight Lab platform (www.foresightlab.pk). He actively participated in the inaugural study undertaken via this platform (PK-SOFI - Pakistan State of Future Index), which is a 10-year future index composed of 30 variables indicating future prospects.
Saad holds a Bachelors degree in Software Engineering, a Masters degree in Computer Engineering and a PhD in Computer Science. He is currently on the Reviewers Panel of the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan (HEC); in the past he has served as a member of HEC’s Innovation Steering Committee, and also as a member of HEC’s National Scholarship Management Committee.
He has previously worked at the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN, Switzerland), where he collaborated with the world’s leading physicists and developed software to collect, process and analyze the results of experiments conducted at high energy particle accelerators. In addition to his commercial and technological pursuits, he has had an active academic and research career. He has worked as a research lead in large scale projects funded by the European Research Council and the UK’s Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC). He has over 50 publications in international journals and conferences.
A significant focus of his work has been on leveraging technology and digital interventions in healthcare, transport, education, e-governance, security and public safety domains, in order to improve the efficiencies of everyday processes that impact societies and quality of life. His keen interest in technology’s impact on society and how it effects the way people live overlaps with the pillars of futures studies. He has collaborated with futurists in order to develop tooks for the systemic processes of undertaking futures studies, worked with the Millennium Project, and is the core member of the team that developed the digital Foresight Lab platform (www.foresightlab.pk). He actively participated in the inaugural study undertaken via this platform (PK-SOFI - Pakistan State of Future Index), which is a 10-year future index composed of 30 variables indicating future prospects.
Saad holds a Bachelors degree in Software Engineering, a Masters degree in Computer Engineering and a PhD in Computer Science. He is currently on the Reviewers Panel of the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan (HEC); in the past he has served as a member of HEC’s Innovation Steering Committee, and also as a member of HEC’s National Scholarship Management Committee.
He has previously worked at the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN, Switzerland), where he collaborated with the world’s leading physicists and developed software to collect, process and analyze the results of experiments conducted at high energy particle accelerators. In addition to his commercial and technological pursuits, he has had an active academic and research career. He has worked as a research lead in large scale projects funded by the European Research Council and the UK’s Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC). He has over 50 publications in international journals and conferences.
Laraib Farhat
Laraib is currently enrolled in M.Phil., pursuing her higher education in the field of International Relations and Politics. Contributing to the field of Research and Policy-making, she is currently serving as an Asst. Research Officer at the Institute of Regional Studies on the Climate Change Desk. Her area of Research includes Women in Climate Change, Politics of Climate Change in South Asia, Tackling Climate Change via Behavioral Sciences, and Strengthening Regional Climate Resilience.
She has recently joined South Asian Foresight Network (SAFN) as an Associate Fellow dovetailing to her previous experience with South Asia Desk. In focus; Digitization, Entrepreneurship, mapping Narrative building, and Geo-politics of technology in South Asia. To enhance her current position, she is also contributing to the market as a columnist for several National and International dailies, presenting her analysis and recommendations on areas encircling International Politics. Meanwhile, to adapt to the latest market trends, she is contributing to the startup Eco-system through her startup, Qissa Khwanan which aims to promote artists of Pakistan via storytelling in the digital age.
She has recently joined South Asian Foresight Network (SAFN) as an Associate Fellow dovetailing to her previous experience with South Asia Desk. In focus; Digitization, Entrepreneurship, mapping Narrative building, and Geo-politics of technology in South Asia. To enhance her current position, she is also contributing to the market as a columnist for several National and International dailies, presenting her analysis and recommendations on areas encircling International Politics. Meanwhile, to adapt to the latest market trends, she is contributing to the startup Eco-system through her startup, Qissa Khwanan which aims to promote artists of Pakistan via storytelling in the digital age.