Dr. Sameen Zafar received a Doctorate in Economics from the University of Nottingham, United Kingdom, with a research focus on Poverty in Asia. During her PhD, she has been a visiting student at University of Oxford, UK to conduct part of her research.  Prior to joining LUMS, she had been working as an Associate Professor at PNU. She has been associated in teaching capacity with the schools of business and economics at eight different universities including the University of Nottingham and Nottingham Trent University in UK. During her teaching experience, she has taught diverse courses in the disciplines of Economics, Business and Development Studies at both undergraduate and post graduate levels, nationally and internationally.

Dr. Zafar has received several awards and recognitions which include the International Research Excellence Award from the University of Nottingham, UK and a Teaching Award from the School of Economics, University of Nottingham. She has also attended numerous international conferences and teacher training programs in the UK to become equipped in imparting education at world class levels. 

She has worked for Islamic Relief UK as a Research Fellow to conduct research and produce a publication on The Validity and Viability of a Banking Model, based on Islamic endowment (Waqf/Awqaf) in UK and also on a project to update courses on Islamic Finance offered by the organisation. Additionally, she has worked as a Research Consultant with the International Cocoa Initiative in Switzerland to assess the condition of children working in cocoa farms in Africa. Also, she has worked with the Nottingham City Council in the capacity of a researcher from the University of Nottingham to develop a poverty profile for Nottinghamshire which she presented to the Council in 2015.

She has been involved in a diverse range of other research projects - from a DFID-funded project on Pakistan’s growth strategy to formulating a national technology policy. She has also presented her research at prestigious academic conferences in various countries such as in UK and Europe.

Her research interests include:

- Development Economics (in particular Poverty, Inequality, Gender Issues, Child Labour, Water, Disaster Risk Reduction).
- International Economics (in particular Firm Productivity, Technology, Informal Sector, Special Economic Zones, SMEs).
- Islamic Finance (in particular Waqf, Zakat, Risk, Human Development, Theoretical Islamic Economics).

Please send her an email at sameen.zafar@lums.edu.pk to discuss research collaboration opportunities.

Berik et al, G. (In Press 2024). Men's Perspectives on Public-Space Sexual Harassment of Women in South Asia. Global Public Health.

Zafar, S. & Ammara, S. (In Press 2024). Self-Employment of Immigrants and Natives: An Empirical Analysis using the Integrated Values Survey. Quality & Quantity.

Zafar, S. & Ammara, S. (In Press 2024). Variations in Climate Change Views across Europe: An Empirical Analysis. Journal of Cleaner Production.

Zafar, S., Shah, G. & Din, R. (In Press 2024). Consanguineous Marriages and Domestic Violence against Women: Evidence from Pakistan. Journal of Asian and African Studies.

Bonou, A., Zafar, S. & Ammara, S. (2024). Floods, Poverty, and Happiness of Rural Farmers in Northern Benin. Economies.

Muhammad, A., Zafar, S., Javid, M. & Ali & Ali, N. (In Press 2024). Examining drivers' distracted driving behavior using the extended norm activation model. International Journal of Crashworthiness.

Berik et al., G. (In Press 2024). Capability Approach to Public-space Harassment of Women: Evidence from India, Bangladesh, and Pakistan. Journal of Human Development and Capabilities.

F, M., Z, S. & M, R. (2023). Heritage Tourism and ICT for Economic Development in Sudan. Heritage Informatics.

Zafar, S., R, I. & A, S. (2023). Disasters and corruption: An Empirical Analysis of 16 countries from Asia and the Middle East. International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction.

Zafar, S. & Armughan, M. (In Press 2023). Assessing consumers' awareness, disposal behaviour, and participation towards electronic waste in a developing economy: Evidence from Pakistan. Journal of Asian and African Studies.

Zafar, S., Din, R. & Bukhari, A. (2023). The Role of the Halal Food Certification on the Growth of the Islamic Economic System: A Global Review. COMSATS Journal of Islamic Finance.

Zafar, S. (2023). Parental International Migration and Health of Children Left-Behind: Evidence from an Asian Economy. International Journal of Migration, Health and Social Care.

Armughan, M. & Zafar, S. (In Press 2023). Public Cognizance About E-waste Effects on Human Health and Environment: Evidence from Punjab, Pakistan. Pakistan Development Review, The.

Zafar, S., Abdullah, M., Javid, M. & Ali & Ali, N. (In Press 2023). Assessing the Determinants of Crash Propensity using Structural Equation Modeling: Role of Distractions Caused by Fellow Drivers. Journal of Safety Research.

Zafar, S. & Suman, A. (In Press 2022). Religion and Entrepreneurship: A Gendered Multi-Country Analysis. Quality & Quantity.

Zafar, S. & Andleeb, Z. (In Press 2022). Women and Vulnerable Emploment. Journal of International Women's Studies.

Zafar, S. (2022). Analysis of Destitution amid Floods: Evidence from Pakistan. Journal of Asian and African Studies.

Zafar, S. & A, S. (In Press 2022). Pursuit of happiness: Subjective well-being of immigrants and natives. International Migration.

Mehfooz, M., Din, R. & Zafar, S. (In Press 2022). Does childhood experience of interparental abuse shape women's attitude toward intimate partner violence in their adult life? Evidence from DHS data from 31 developing countries. Journal of Interpersonal Violence.

Din, R., Fawad, S., Naz, L., Zafar & Zafar, S. & Kumar, R. (In Press 2022). Nutritional inequalities among under-five children: A geospatial analysis of hotspots and cold spots in 73 low- and middle-income countries. International Journal for Equity in Health.

Zafar, S. & Zahra, M. (In Press 2022). Determinants of Food Insecurity Before and During COVID-19 An empirical analysis for Malawi. International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction.

Zafar, S., Amir, R. & Atif, R. (2022). Waqf: An Analysis of the Global Management Practices. COMSATS Journal of Islamic Finance.

Din, R., Abbas, F., Mahmood, H., Salman & Salman, V. & Zafar, S. (2021). Leaving studies because of lack of interest: An analysis of the risk factors of school dropouts in Pakistan. Quality & Quantity.

Din, R., Zafar, S., Muzammil, M., Shabbir & Shabbir, R. & Malik, S. (2021). Exploring the Relationship Between Maternal Occupation and Under-Five Mortality: Empirical Evidence from 26 Developing Countries. The European Journal of Development Research.

Muzammil, M., Zafar, S., Aziz, S., Bhutta & Bhutta, M. & -ud-Din, R. (2021). Maternal Correlates of Poliomyelitis Vaccination Uptake: Evidence from Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Nigeria. The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, doi:10.4269/ajtmh.21-0327.

Rehman, M., Zafar, S. & Amir, R. (2021). Size, Correlates and Consumption Patterns of the Middle Class: Evidence from Pakistan. Journal of Asian and African Studies.

Zafar, S., Zia, S. & Amir, R. (2021). Troubling Trade-offs Between Women's Work and Intimate Partner Violence: Evidence From 19 Developing Countries. Journal of Interpersonal Violence.

Zafar, S., Khattak, N., Bokhari, S. & Bajwa & Bajwa, M. (2008). Key Manufacturing Sectors for Technology Up-gradation in Pakistan: Medium-Tech and High-Tech Manufactures. Journal of Quality and Technology Management.

Zafar, S., Khattak, N., Naseer, M. & Bajwa & Bajwa, M. (2008). Key Manufacturing Sectors for Technology Up-gradation in Pakistan: Low-Tech Manufactures. Journal of Quality and Technology Management.

Rana, A. & Zafar, S. (2023). Exploring Policy Options for Promoting Agribusiness Investment in Balochistan, Published. CRC, CRC - LUMS.

Zafar, S. & Ammara, S. (2023). Situation of Brain Drain in Pakistan, with a focus on the Healthcare Sector, Published. PIDE, ..

Rana, A. & Zafar, S. (2023). Restructuring Small Industries Development Board (SIDB), KPK, Published. CRC, Case Research center LUMS.

Zafar, S. & Zahra, M. (2024). An Analysis of Macadamia Nut Production and Policy Environment in Malawi, Published. Case Research Unit (CRU), CRC - LUMS.

Zafar, S. & Hafeez, A. (2023). Assessment of Policies and Practices for E-waste Management: A Study of Asia, Published. PIDE, ..

Hafeez, A. & Zafar, S. (2022). Analyzing the effects of e-waste on human health and environment: A study of Pakistan, Published. Knowledge Brief, PIDE.

Zafar, S. & Mukherji, S. (2016). Special Economic Zones and Agriculture An Alternative Theorisation, Published. Trade, Investment and Economic Development in Asia: Empirical and Policy Issues. Routledge (Taylor), Routledge.

Zafar, S. (2019). Waqf. 8th Asian Management and Research Conference, Al AIn, United Arab Emirates.

Zafar, S. (2019). Perpetual Charity and Social Justice. Second World Islamic Economics and Finance Research Conference co organised by IRTI and Minhaj, Lahore, Pakistan.

Zafar, S. (2019). Disadvantaged group. Development, UK, United Kingdom.

Zafar, S. (2018). Land and Poor. Land, Tokyo, Japan.

Zafar, S. (2015). Deprivation Dimensions in Pakistan. University of Nottingham Doctoral Conference, Nottingham, United Kingdom.

Zafar, S. (2015). Child Labour in Pakistan. Governance and Economics Conference, Oslo, Norway.

Zafar, S. (2014). Faces of Poverty.. University of Leicester, East Midlands Universities Conference., Leicester, United Kingdom.

Zafar, S. (2014). Health and Education in South Asia. Warwick ESRC DTC Conference, Warwick, United Kingdom.

Zafar, S. (2014). Dynamics of Deprivation. Oxford CSAE Development Economics Workshop, Oxford, United Kingdom.

Zafar, S. (2014). Poverty and its Determinants.. University of Goettingen, Chair of Development Economics Seminar, Goettingen, Germany.

Zafar, S. (2013). Ultra Poor.. University of East Anglia and Institute of Development Studies Joint Conference, London, United Kingdom.

Zafar, S. (2013). Dimensions of Poverty. OPHI University of Oxford seminar, Oxford, United Kingdom.

Zafar, S. (2011). Various. PhD Annual Conference Series, School of Economics, Nottingham, United Kingdom.

Zafar, S. (2018). Land and Poor. Land.

Zafar, S. (2021). Malawi's development.

Zafar, S. (2018). Land and Poor.

Zafar, S. & Mazhar, U. (2018). Firms and Political Instability.

Zafar, S. (2024). Associate Editor: Journal of Human Development and Capabilities.

Zafar, S. (2016). The validity and viability of a waqf-based (endowments-based) banking model. Islamic Relief Series UK.

Zafar, S. (2014). Presenting Research in form of Art.

Zafar, S. (2010). Various. Writer for IBEX Business Magazine for various topics such as Chinese Economy, Trade and Corruption..