Faculty Members

Education

• PhD (Electrical Engineering), UET, Lahore (2011)
• MS (Electrical Engineering), UET, Lahore (2006)
• BSc (Electrical Engineering), UET, Lahore (1998)

Profile

Dr. Saima Zafar holds the distinction of being the first female Professor of Engineering in Punjab, marking a significant milestone in the region’s academic landscape.

She began her professional career in the software development industry after earning her Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering in 1998. She served as a Senior Software Engineer at NETSOL Technologies Inc., where she contributed to the development of financial and leasing software solutions for Mercedes-Benz Leasing Company, Australia (MBFA).

Transitioning to academia, Dr. Zafar pursued advanced studies and completed her Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering in 2006, followed by a PhD in Electrical Engineering in 2011. She has been associated with the FAST-NU Lahore since 2008 and currently serves as Professor and Head of the Department of Electrical Engineering.

Dr. Zafar is the Director of the NEXIS – Networks, Energy & Healthcare Informatics Systems research group (formerly Smart Networking Research Group – SNRG). She has supervised more than 40 undergraduate and graduate projects and theses and has authored over 40 research publications in reputable international journals and conferences. She is an HEC-approved PhD supervisor and is currently supervising five doctoral candidates.

Her teaching portfolio spans a broad spectrum of foundational and advanced courses, including Introduction to Computing, Programming Fundamentals, Object-Oriented Programming, Data Communication and Computer Networks, Wireless and Mobile Networks, Internet of Things (IoT), Applied Machine Learning, Deep Learning, Analog and Digital Communications, Wireless Communications, Linear Circuit Analysis, Electrical Network Analysis, Research Methodology, and Advanced Computer Networks.

Dr. Zafar’s research interests encompass the design and performance analysis of network protocols, computer network modeling, wireless sensor and cellular networks, 6LoWPANs, Internet of Things (IoT), IoT-based healthcare systems, Artificial Intelligence–driven Clinical Decision Support Systems, healthcare informatics, Energy Management Systems, and energy informatics.

She is a Senior Member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and a Professional Engineer with the Pakistan Engineering Council, reflecting her recognized contributions to the engineering profession.