Dr. Shamsul Arfin QasmiFounding Member, BOD, and Ex-general secretary
Prof. Dr. Shamsul Arfin Qasmi possesses nearly 14 years of experience in Biorisk Management (Biosafety & Biosecurity) and Microbiology. He earned a Bachelor of Medicine and a Master’s degree (MBBS) leading to an M.Phil. and PhD in Microbiology from the University of Karachi, as well as a Post Graduate Diploma (PGD) in Haematology from Baqai Medical University, Karachi, Pakistan. He is a founding member of Pakistan’s Biological Safety Association (PBSA). He has served two terms as General Secretary of PBSA and currently serves on the Board of Directors of PBSA.
He worked as a microbiology (pathology) professor at various medical schools across Pakistan. He also served as Principal and Head of Pathology at Bahawalpur Medical & Dental College, which is affiliated with the University of Health Sciences Lahore, from 2021 to 2023.
Additionally, he is a Registered Biosafety Professional (RBP) and a Certified Biosafety Professional (CBSP) from the American Biological Safety Association (ABSA). He is also certified by the International Federation of Biosafety Associations (IFBA) in six domains: Biosafety, Biosecurity, and Cyberbiosecurity. He has collaborated with several international organizations on mandates like “The Australia Group” (AG) aimed at “Strengthening Global Security,” as well as with CRDF, USAID, FIC NIH USA, Sandia National Laboratories NM USA, and Georgetown University USA. Dr. Qasmi has authored more than 32 international and national papers, 12 of which focus on biosafety and biosecurity and have been published in journals with international impact factors.
For the past 10 years, Dr. Qasmi has worked as a consultant Microbiologist and Biosafety advisor in BSL-2 and BSL-2 Enhanced level laboratories. He has trained laboratory professionals in biosafety and biosecurity, Dual Use Research of Concern (DURC), IATA regulations, BSL-3 practices and procedures, and Design and Engineering across Pakistan and internationally through in-person and virtual workshops. He introduced Biosecurity and Dual Use Research of Concern (DURC) at life sciences institutes throughout Pakistan, introduced Dual Use Research Equipment (DURE) to stakeholders, and trained life scientists in establishing Institutional Biosafety Committees (IBC) and currently working on establishing Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) in life sciences laboratories of Pakistan, including veterinary institutes at the national level.
He developed and conducted a Biosafety course for master’s and doctoral students at the Basic Medical Sciences Institute, Jinnah Post Graduate Medical Centre (BMSI, JPMC) in Karachi, Pakistan, from 2019 to 2022. He is also the author of four books and two chapters on Biorisk Management. In 204-2025, he created National Laboratory Waste Management Guidelines for Pakistan and is currently a Health Security Partners USA consultant.