Engineers at NED University of Engineering and Technology in Karachi have marked a major milestone by successfully testing Pakistan’s first self-driving car. The project was completed at the National Centre for Artificial Intelligence, where a small team worked for almost a year to build and refine the system.
The electric car was originally imported from China, but the engineers upgraded it with local AI tools, robotics, mapping systems, and vision algorithms. These additions allow the vehicle to sense its surroundings and make basic driving decisions on its own. The car can detect traffic lights, road lanes, potholes, bumps, and other road obstacles.
During the road trials, supervised by Dr Muhammad Khurram and his research team, the car drove at speeds of 15 to 20 kilometers per hour. It showed clear progress in steering control, object detection, and understanding simple traffic situations. Although the speed was kept low for safety, the test demonstrated that the core technology works and can be further improved.
This achievement highlights Pakistan’s growing capability in artificial intelligence and autonomous vehicle technology. It also shows that local engineers can build advanced systems with limited resources by using creativity and technical skill. The project opens the door for future research in smart transportation, safer roads, and modern mobility solutions.
While there is still a long way to go before self-driving cars become common in Pakistan, this test is an important first step. It reflects the potential of local universities to lead innovation and contribute to global technological progress.
