About IPDS

IPDS Team

The people driving IPDS's mission of peace, diplomacy, and informed dialogue.

Leadership

Dr. Farhat Asif

Founder & President

Dr. Farhat Asif, Founder and President of the Institute of Peace and Diplomatic Studies (IPDS), is a distinguished professional with over 19 years of expertise in international relations, foreign policy, and diplomacy since 2007. Since 2013 she has built IPDS into a leading Islamabad think tank, and since 2009 has edited The Diplomatic Insight, alongside the bi-annual, peer-reviewed Journal of Peace and Diplomacy.

She is the first Pakistani woman named an International Women's Forum (IWF) Leadership Fellow (2023–2024 class), and in 2025 served as Business Outreach & Private Sector Engagement Consultant to the Asian Development Bank's CAREC Secretariat for the CAREC Business Forum in Bishkek. She has established IPDS's Pakistan-SCO Friendship Forum and its Centres for Belt and Road & China Studies, Central Asia & Eurasian Studies, and Women, Peace & Leadership, and hosts Global Women Insight, a video-interview platform profiling women leaders and parliamentarians worldwide.

Her accolades include the N-Peace Award from UNDP Asia Pacific, the Public Diplomat Award from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan, and a Global Change Leaders Fellowship from the Coady International Institute. She holds a Ph.D. in Public Diplomacy from Quaid-i-Azam University and completed executive education at INSEAD and Harvard Business School.

Ph.D. Public DiplomacyIWF Leadership FellowN-Peace Award — UNDPPublic Diplomat Award — UzbekistanINSEAD · Harvard Business School

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Muhammad Asif Noor

Executive Director

Muhammad Asif Noor is the Executive Director of the Institute of Peace and Diplomatic Studies (IPDS) and CEO of the Diplomatic Insight Group, which today spans four entities — Nirvana Merchants, Global Business Alliance, The Diplomatic Insight magazine, and Global News Pakistan. With over two decades in business, media, and academia, he has built influential networks across Pakistan, Central Asia, the Caucasus, and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation region.

He chairs the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Pakistan-China Commerce Alliance International, serves as Deputy Chairman of the Pakistan-Brazil Business Council (FPCCI), and is a Goodwill Ambassador of the Vehari Chamber of Commerce and Industry. He founded the Pakistan-SCO Friendship Forum and the International Forum for Pakistani Columnists and Anchors, and has led business delegations to the Central Asian Republics on behalf of Pakistani industry.

An acclaimed author, he has written Azerbaijan-Pakistan Relations: Challenges and Opportunities, Pakistan-Kazakhstan Relations, and Knowing Brazil, and regularly briefs Ministries of Foreign Affairs, embassies, and international media on foreign policy and security issues. His contribution to Pakistan-China ties was recognised with the CPEC Communications Award from the Embassy of China and China Economic Net, and the Hurricane Lamp Top Award for Policy Coordination from NEXT Federation, New Zealand.

CPEC Communications AwardHurricane Lamp Top Award — NEXT FederationPublic Diplomat Award — UzbekistanMSc Defence & Strategic Studies — QAU

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Experts & Staff

Sajida Khalid

Research Lead

Sajida Khalid is the Research Lead at the Centre for European Studies, IPDS. Based in Venice, she focuses on international higher education policy, academic mobility, and Europe–Pakistan knowledge diplomacy. She holds a BSc (Hons) in Politics and International Relations from the International Islamic University, Islamabad.

Nuzhat Rana

Research Associate

Nuzhat Rana serves as a Research Associate and Managing Editor for The Diplomatic Insight. She coordinates global insights and research activities to foster diplomatic dialogue, content curation, and strategic understanding across regional centers.

Irsa Khalid

Project Manager

Irsa Khalid is the Project Manager, overseeing organizational initiatives, tracking development goals, and ensuring the smooth implementation of diplomatic and peace-building programs. She liaises between departments to guarantee operational success.

Farkhund Iqbal

Research Associate

Hassan Ahmed

Operations Manager

Hassan Ahmed ensures seamless day-to-day coordination as the Operations Manager. He handles strategic planning, team logistics, and operational excellence within the organization to consistently support its high-level diplomatic engagements.

Abdul Qadir

Graphics Designer