Dr. Shahzad Qaiser , Vice President

Dr. Shahzad Qaiser (b. March 6, 1950) is a Pakistani philosopher, poet and scholar of metaphysics and mysticism whose work bridges classical Islamic thought and contemporary intellectual concerns. He is especially noted for studies on Khawaja Ghulam Farid, Rumi and Allama Iqbal. Prior to his current appointment on October 2, 2025, he served twice as Vice President of Iqbal Academy Pakistan (2010–2013; 2018–2021) and authored influential books, including The Metaphysical and Cultural Perspectives of Khawaja Ghulam Farid’s Poetry and Iqbal (2012) and Metaphysics and Tradition (2014). His career has also included senior roles in the Civil Service of Pakistan, experience often credited with lending a practical tenor to his scholarly and literary output. More broadly, his writings bring together close readings of Sufi poetry and a philosophical vocabulary attentive to questions of selfhood, ethical action and the renewal of intellectual life in Muslim societies. He consistently aims to make metaphysical insights speak to contemporary dilemmas, linking spiritual intelligence with cultural responsibility and has contributed to initiatives that connect research with public engagement through publications, lectures and institutional programs.