How a New University Is Transforming a City: Dr. Yasir Nawab on Building the University of Kamalia

Dr. Yasir Nawab is the first regular Vice Chancellor of the University of Kamalia, where he has rapidly transformed a newly established public university into a fully functional academic institution. Under his leadership, the university has launched multiple undergraduate programs, established state-of-the-art laboratories, built strong industry partnerships, and introduced community-funded scholarship initiatives. He holds a PhD in Mechanical Engineering (Composite Materials) from Université de Nantes, France, and brings extensive international academic experience, including adjunct professorships in the United States and the United Kingdom. An internationally recognized researcher in natural fibers, composite materials, and circular textiles, Dr. Nawab has been ranked among the world’s top 2% scientists for the past three consecutive years. In recognition of his scholarly contributions, he received the Pakistan Academy of Sciences Gold Medal in 2025. Dr. Nawab has led several major funded research and commercialization projects, resulting in multiple patents successfully transferred to industry. Widely regarded for his visionary, execution-driven leadership, he is a strong advocate of industry-linked education, innovation-led growth, and community-centered development in higher education. ************************************ Shakil Chaudhary is a journalist, author, and researcher. He is an alumnus of Government College, Lahore. He later studied International Relations at Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, and Media and Communications at the London School of Economics. Over the years, he has worked for several leading English-language newspapers and a few other organizations. He is the author of the critically acclaimed bilingual book Handbook of Functional English (Ferozsons), designed to help South Asians improve their English language skills. Prof. Tariq Rahman, one of South Asia’s most distinguished linguistic scholars, has praised the book, calling it “an excellent guide for the South Asian user of the English language.” Shakil has twice spoken at the Middle East Institute in Washington, D.C., and has conducted numerous workshops on communication, writing, and critical thinking. He is a founding member of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) and served as President of the Progressive Writers' Association, Islamabad, from 2021 to 2022. He has attended Rotary’s annual conventions in Toronto and Hamburg. These are some of his notable interviews: 👉 Sardar Masood Khan, former president, AJK, Part 1: https://youtu.be/h0jFAudsDuM 👉 Sardar Masood Khan, former president, AJK, Part 2: https://youtu.be/0esgmmI8XGE 👉 Ambassador Abdul Basit: https://youtu.be/qxWeiIzwskI 👉 Lt. Gen. Asad Durrani: https://youtu.be/x3mdfAklix0 👉 Shahid Siddiqui, a former member of India’s parliament: https://youtu.be/hRDiEe90z6Y You’re welcome to follow him on Facebook and Twitter. 👉 https://www.facebook.com/shakil.chaudary 👉 https://twitter.com/ShakChaudhary