Leadership
Sharafat Saqib
Founder & Managing Director
A seasoned software engineer and technology executive with over 5 years of hands-on experience architecting and shipping production-grade digital products. Sharafat has led end-to-end engineering across SaaS platforms, AI-powered automation systems, e-commerce marketplaces, logistics solutions, real estate portals, fitness applications, and Web3 products — from initial architecture through to live deployment. As Founder and Managing Director of Baltistan Silicon Labs, he channels that industry depth into BSL's curriculum design, engineering culture, and commercial IT services, setting the standard for what modern tech education and software delivery look like in Gilgit-Baltistan.
- 5+ years in full-stack software engineering, product architecture, and technical leadership across SaaS, AI, and Web3
- BS Software Engineering
Expertise
Sher Ali Shahid
Co-Founder & CEO
A dedicated Machine Learning Engineer and technology entrepreneur with over 3 years of professional experience in Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, and intelligent software development. Sher Ali specialises in building production-ready AI-driven solutions — from predictive models and data pipelines to intelligent automation systems — and translating that expertise into industry-oriented technical education. As Co-Founder and CEO of Baltistan Silicon Labs, he leads the institute's strategic vision, championing accessible, world-class tech education for the next generation of engineers from Gilgit-Baltistan.
- 3+ years in Machine Learning, AI Systems, and Data Science engineering
- BS Computer Science
Expertise
Research Team
BSL Research is the institute's R&D arm, working on applied AI, computer vision, language technology and geospatial data. See what the lab is working on.
Ghulam Muhammad
Research Associate — Mathematics & Machine Learning
A PhD scholar in Mathematics at the University of Baltistan, Skardu, working where pure analysis meets applied AI. His research spans time scale calculus, discrete and continuous analysis, and decision-making under uncertainty using fuzzy mathematics, with machine learning as the applied edge. He has taught mathematics as a lecturer in public schools and colleges, and brings that formal rigour to BSL's research track.
- Lecturer of Mathematics at public school and college, Skardu
- PhD Scholar in Mathematics — University of Baltistan, Skardu
Credentials
- MS Mathematics — IBA Karachi
- Master's in Mathematics — University of Karachi
- National Best Contribution Award — First International Conference in Mathematics
- Three-time topper, F.Sc. examinations
Expertise
Dr. Mustansar Hussain
Clinical Research Advisor — Health & Medical AI
A vascular surgeon who brings the clinical half of BSL's health research. His specialisation covers arterial and venous disease, where imaging, early detection and risk stratification decide outcomes — exactly the ground where machine learning is most often claimed to help and most often untested. In the lab he keeps the health-facing work honest: what a diagnostic model actually has to get right, what counts as a useful prediction at the bedside, and where a confident algorithm stops being clinically meaningful.
- MBBS · FCPS Part II completed
Credentials
- MBBS — Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery
- Specialisation: Vascular Surgery
Expertise
Irfan Kazim
Research Associate — Machine Learning & Software Engineering
A software engineering researcher working at the point where machine learning meets the systems that have to deliver it. His research spans applied machine learning and data science, the engineering practices behind reliable software, and educational technology — in particular how data-driven methods can make e-learning platforms measurably more effective for the people using them.
- Lecturer of Mathematics at public school and college, Skardu
- MS Software Engineering — COMSATS University
Expertise
Dr. Ayesha Rehman
Head of Research
Leads BSL Research, setting the lab's agenda across applied machine learning, computer vision and language technology, and supervising the student research track.
- 8+ years in academic and applied AI research
- PhD, Computer Science
Expertise
Mehwish Batool
Research Associate — NLP & Language Technology
Works on natural language systems for low-resource languages, including the Balti text and speech corpus that underpins BSL's translation research.
- 3+ years in NLP and computational linguistics
Expertise
Karim Abbas
Research Associate — Geospatial & Climate Data
Analyses satellite and sensor data on Karakoram glaciers and water systems, turning remote-sensing time series into models decision-makers can use.
- 3+ years in remote sensing and geospatial analysis
Expertise
Instructors & Staff
Muhammad Nasir
AI/ML Engineer · Python Developer · Research Associate
Works on research-driven AI at BSL, building production systems including a transaction fraud detection model, a CNN-based skin cancer detection system, recommendation engines, and predictive analytics tools. He also instructs BSL's AI & ML Authorization Program, teaching practical AI to students and professionals in Skardu.
- 1+ year in machine learning, deep learning, data analytics & backend development
Expertise
Fatima Khan
Lead Software Engineer / Instructor
Expert in web development, modern JavaScript, and enterprise-level architecture with 10+ years experience.
Expertise
Ali Siddiqui
AI & Data Science Instructor
Experienced in machine learning, AI tools, data analytics, and automation solutions for businesses.
Expertise
Zainab Malik
Mobile App Instructor
Specialist in Android, iOS, and cross-platform app development with portfolio of published apps.
Expertise
Hassan Ali
Academic Coordinator
Manages curriculum, schedules, and student progress to ensure quality education delivery.
Expertise
Sara Ahmed
Community Manager & Student Support
Supports students, manages events, and builds the BSL learning community with care and dedication.
Expertise