Dr Nadeem A. Malik serves as Director of IT Services at Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi, a role that reflects a long journey from Village Shakarkot in District Gujrat to university technology leadership. Born on March 26, 1977, he credits early inspiration from his father and strong academic performance, including a scholarship in eighth grade and top marks through matriculation and F.Sc., for setting the stage for his career in information technology.
Nadeem Malik completed a Bachelor of Computer Science (Hons.) at International Islamic University Rawalpindi and an MS in Computer Science at Iqra University Islamabad, both with top grades. He entered the PhD program in Computer Science at PMAS-Arid Agriculture University in 2017 and achieved a perfect 4.0/4.0 CGPA while focusing his research on Artificial Intelligence, contributing two international papers to the field.
His professional career began at Radio Pakistan in 1999 as an IT expert, where he earned an appreciation letter for best performance in January 2005. He later joined PMAS-Arid Agriculture University as a software developer, progressed to database administrator in 2011, and was appointed Director of IT Services in 2013. Alongside his directorial duties he has handled responsibilities as Principal Officer for Public Relations and Publications, and has been recognized with university certificates for best performance.
With more than 25 years in IT, Nadeem Malik has organized and participated in national and international conferences that promote innovation and academic collaboration. His practical leadership at the university has been matched by scholarly work in AI, reflecting a commitment to both campus digital transformation and scientific contribution.
On the subject of artificial intelligence, Nadeem Malik emphasizes both its promise and pitfalls. He notes AI’s capacity to automate routine tasks, enhance data-driven decisions, and offer solutions for healthcare, climate challenges, and diagnostics, while warning about job displacement, privacy risks, biased algorithms, and ethical concerns. He urges aspiring technologists to build strong foundations in mathematics, computer science, and ethics and to stay curious while using technology for public benefit.
Believing that AI education must be part of modern curricula, Nadeem Malik advocates interdisciplinary programs where AI intersects with law, healthcare, and the arts to produce innovators who understand responsibility alongside capability. He highlights high-demand fields such as artificial intelligence and machine learning, data science and big data analytics, cybersecurity, cloud computing, robotics and automation, and the Internet of Things as areas where students can make significant impact.
Speaking on career preparation, Nadeem Malik stresses that a degree alone is no longer sufficient; practical skills, projects, and a strong portfolio determine success particularly in the private sector, while recognized degrees remain essential for public sector eligibility. He thanks his PhD supervisor Prof. Dr. Qamar-uz-Zaman and colleagues Dr. Yasir Hafeez, Dr. Saud Altaf, and Dr. Azeem Abbas for their support, and credits his parents and wife for encouragement and sacrifice during his academic journey.
Balancing faith and professional life, Nadeem Malik performed Umrah in 2023 and prayed for Pakistan’s prosperity and global peace. His story underscores how perseverance, education, and ethical vision can drive technology leadership and meaningful academic contributions within Pakistan’s higher education landscape.
