Dr Shafia Arshad
About me
Dr. Shafia Arshad is Additional Director of ORIC at Government Sadiq College Women University, Bahawalpur, and Chairperson of the Examining Body for the National Council for Tibb. A biochemist and Eastern medicine specialist, she has over 17 years of teaching experience and a PhD focused on prenatal iron deficiency and lead toxicity. She previously led IUB Research Journals, expanding HEC-recognized titles from 1 to 24 and overseeing journal digitization and indexing. Her work in university–industry linkages, IP policy, and technology transfer, supported by WIPO training, centers on translating research into social and economic impact. With 64 publications (impact factor 82.57) and active engagement in promoting women in STEM, Dr. Arshad’s portfolio spans research, academic leadership, and systemic capacity building.
Dr. Shafia Arshad is a higher education and research leader in Pakistan, known for integrating academic scholarship, research management, and institutional development across the health and life sciences.
She currently serves as Additional Director, Office of Research, Innovation and Commercialization (ORIC) at the Government Sadiq College Women University, Bahawalpur, and as Chairperson of the Examining Body for the National Council for Tibb (NCT) under the Ministry of National Health Services. These dual roles position her at the intersection of education policy, research governance, and regulation of traditional medicine.
Trained as a biochemist and phytomedicine specialist, Dr. Arshad obtained her PhD in Biochemistry with a thesis on prenatal iron deficiency and lead toxicity. She also holds a degree in Eastern Medicine and Surgery (BEMS), which informs her holistic approach to health sciences. For more than 17 years, she has taught Biochemistry at the Faculty of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, delivering courses that span core Biochemistry and Pharmacognosy to advanced Phytochemistry and Bioinformatics for M.Phil. and PhD scholars.
Beyond teaching, Dr. Arshad has played a central role in building research and publishing systems. As Administrative Head of IUB Research Journals, she oversaw the expansion of HEC-recognized journals from one to twenty-four. This work included launching new titles, training editorial teams, implementing Open Journal Systems (OJS), and managing indexing processes with platforms such as Web of Science and Crossref, where she served as IUB’s focal person. These efforts significantly enhanced the university’s research visibility and created publishing opportunities for scholars across Pakistan.
In the domain of innovation and technology transfer, she has served as Manager, University–Industrial Linkages and Technology Transfer at IUB’s ORIC. She contributed to the development of the university’s Intellectual Property (IP) policy, handled numerous IP disclosures, and managed copyright filings. Having received specialized training from the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Academy, she brings expertise in patent drafting and IP management to support the commercialization of academic research. She has helped organize entrepreneurial conventions, establish multiple MoUs with industry and chambers of commerce, and co-founded the startup "Valorize", focused on journal management services.
Dr. Arshad’s work is closely aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly in public health, quality education, gender equality, and industry–innovation linkages. Her research on anemia and community health, her contributions as Deputy Director to initiatives promoting women in STEM, and her commitment to inclusive, industry-relevant curricula reflect this orientation. She is also active as a lead trainer in executive development programs and has authored 64 research publications with a cumulative impact factor of 82.57.
Taken together, Dr. Shafia Arshad’s career illustrates how sustained effort in teaching, research, and strategic leadership can strengthen institutions, expand research ecosystems, and connect traditional knowledge with modern scientific and industrial practice.