Islamabad, April 15–17, 2025 – Professor Dr. Khalid Hafeez, Vice Chancellor of the Balochistan University of Information Technology, Engineering and Management Sciences (BUITEMS), proudly represented Balochistan as the sole participant from the province in two high-level panel discussions at the prestigious URAAN Pakistan Growth through Digital Transformation Conference. The conference was held during the 38th Annual General Conference of the Pakistan Society of Development Economists (PSDE), organized by PIDE in Islamabad.
Professor Hafeez was invited as a distinguished panelist in the session titled “Digital Transformation, AI, Productivity, and Future of Work: A Conversation for Pakistan”, chaired by Professor Michael Spence, Nobel Laureate and renowned economist from the University of Milan, Italy. This panel gathered top national and international thought leaders to explore how Artificial Intelligence and digital innovation are reshaping productivity and employment in Pakistan.
In a separate high-impact session, “Reimagining Universities in Pakistan in the Digital and AI Age,” Professor Hafeez joined an esteemed panel that included the Vice Chancellors of PIDE and GIK, along with two leading venture capitalists. The discussion centered around the future of higher education in Pakistan, the need for technological adaptation in academic institutions, and the transformation of curricula to prepare students for the challenges of a digital future.
Professor Hafeez emphasized BUITEMS’s proactive steps in embracing digital transformation, fostering AI research, and preparing students for the future of work. His participation in both panels not only spotlighted BUITEMS at a national level but also amplified the voice of Balochistan in critical policy dialogues on innovation and development.
BUITEMS continues to play a pioneering role in bridging regional gaps and contributing to the national discourse on digital transformation, education reform, and inclusive growth.