Pakistan has taken a major leap toward the future of mobility. Engineers at NED University of Engineering and Technology have successfully conducted the test drive of the country’s first AI-powered driverless car, setting a groundbreaking milestone in Pakistan’s technology and automotive sectors.
During the trial run, the autonomous vehicle moved smoothly across the NED campus roads, surprising students, visitors, and faculty with its ability to operate without human control.
A Year of Research, Engineering & AI Development
The project was developed at the National Centre for Artificial Intelligence (NCAI) within NED University’s Department of Computer and Information Sciences. The engineering team spent a full year transforming a China-imported electric vehicle into a fully autonomous system.
To convert the car into a driverless vehicle, developers integrated:
- Artificial Intelligence (AI)
- Advanced robotics
- Mapping and localization tools
- Computer vision
- Radar sensors
- AI-driven algorithms
This combination enabled the vehicle to navigate, recognize objects, and respond to its surroundings.
Steering Control, Object Detection & Autonomous Navigation
According to Dr. Muhammad Khurram, Director of the National Centre for Artificial Intelligence and the project lead, the car has now reached a mature stage of testing after extensive development cycles.
The system currently includes:
- AI steering control
- Radar and computer-vision enhancements
- Object and obstacle detection
- Lane recognition
- Speed-limit detection
- Traffic signal identification
Additionally, the car maintains an internal safety speed of 15–20 km/h, making it ideal for controlled testing on university grounds. It can also turn autonomously and judge incoming traffic.
Team member Inzimam Khan highlighted that this vehicle is uniquely designed to handle Pakistan’s challenging road conditions, including uneven surfaces, unexpected obstacles, and irregular traffic patterns. Its high-resolution sensors and AI-powered perception systems give it an edge over many global prototypes.
A Project That Spans Leadership and Vision
The driverless car project began under the leadership of former Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Sarosh Hashmat Lodhi and has seen major progress under the current Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Tufail Ahmed.
Their combined support reflects NED University’s continued commitment to innovation, research, and technological advancement.
A Major Step Toward Pakistan’s Autonomous Future
The successful test of this AI-powered driverless car is more than just a technological achievement — it represents Pakistan’s growing capabilities in:
- Autonomous vehicle systems
- Artificial intelligence research
- Robotics and automation
- Smart mobility solutions
As engineers continue to refine object detection, traffic interpretation, and full autonomy systems, Pakistan is moving closer to joining the global race for intelligent transportation and self-driving innovation.
