Prof. Dr. SOHAIL ASGHAR holds a PhD in Computer Science from Monash University, Australia (QS Rank: 42), and has over two decades of academic, research, and leadership experience across premier institutions. He has served as Director UIIT at Arid University, Principal Investigator at the National Center of Artificial Intelligence, and held multiple leadership roles at COMSATS University Islamabad, including Dean (FIST and FBA), Chairman FIST, Incharge Islamabad Campus, and Head of R&D.
Professor Asghar led teams managing budgets exceeding Rs. 3.2 billion and over 700 employees at COMSATS University Islamabad Campus, spearheading institutional development, academic program expansion, and digitization of key processes. He increased revenue by launching innovative, industry-oriented academic programs and boosting student intake, while attracting external funding and industry sponsorships to ease the university's financial constraints. Through strategic collaboration with industry partners, he oversaw major infrastructure upgrades without burdening campus finances. Professor Asghar emphasized in-house resource optimization over outsourcing and significantly enhanced student services by upgrading the Student Affairs division. He also established effective communication channels to ensure smooth policy implementation across university stakeholders. As General Chair of FIT 24, he upheld and advanced the university's nineteen-year legacy of organizing its flagship international IT conference.
The Medical Imaging and Diagnostic Lab — a funded project worth Rs. 117 million at COMSATS University Islamabad — was led by Prof. Dr. Sohail Asghar as Principal Investigator, focusing on AI-driven medical diagnostic solutions and technology transfer. The lab developed advanced deep learning–based systems including the Tuberculosis Screening System (TDS), Tashkhees (Breast Cancer Diagnostic System), and BrainViz (Brain Tumor Diagnostic System), integrated with an AI-powered DICOM Viewer capable of automated detection, segmentation, report generation, and voice-assisted interaction. These systems achieve high diagnostic accuracy and have been clinically deployed in hospitals and diagnostic laboratories, supported by national and international collaborations.
During his tenure at KSOFT (a subsidiary of KRL), Professor Asghar exhibited strong and multidimensional leadership capabilities, managing personnel while executing an executive-level role. He demonstrated strategic foresight by formulating IT strategies and spearheading corporate training programs for both government and private organizations.
Internationally, he spent eight years in Australia and the UK in research and teaching roles, including a postdoctoral fellowship at Monash. He has mobilized substantial funding — Rs. 97.57 million nationally (CUI) and AUD 40 million internationally (Monash), totaling over Rs. 7.2 billion.
He has a distinguished track record in institutional restructuring, faculty development, governance, and policy formulation. With over 2,000 citations and more than 200 national and international academic recognitions, including HEC travel grants and productivity awards, he has made significant contributions to academia. He is a pioneer in the design and implementation of outcome-based education (OBE) in computer science at CUI Islamabad, contributing significantly to the advancement of academic standards and curriculum development.
A prominent figure in Pakistan's artificial intelligence landscape, his influence continues to grow internationally through groundbreaking research, collaborative projects, and leadership roles in prestigious AI conferences and forums.