Date: 30/07/2026
Time: 14:00 – 15:00 (BST)
Location: Online
Resilient Pakistan: addressing deepfake audio and identity fraud
In this webinar, Commonwealth Alumnus Dr Junaid Mir will discuss the growing threat of fraud and identity deception in digital ecosystems, with a focus on Pakistan and comparative insights from the UK.
The session will examine how deepfake audio technologies and voice-based scams (vishing) are rapidly evolving, and the implications these developments have for institutional security, public trust, and the wider adoption of digital banking services. It will also highlight the heightened risks of AI-driven deception in multilingual and culturally diverse environments, especially in contexts where Urdu–English and Urdu–Hindi communication is prevalent.
Drawing on research funded by the UK’s Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and Pakistan’s Higher Education Commission, the webinar will showcase innovative AI-based systems designed to protect individuals from voice fraud. These systems are designed to detect whether a voice in a phone call is genuine or artificially generated, even in real time, helping identify and prevent impersonation attempts in which criminals use cloned or manipulated voices to deceive victims.
The webinar will address the CSC development theme, Strengthening Peace, Security, and Governance
The CSC’s Development in Action webinar series provides an opportunity for Commonwealth Scholars and Alumni to present on their work and contribution to development across a range of contemporary global challenges and provide insight into ongoing research and action.
Open to all Commonwealth Scholars and Alumni, the monthly webinars will address one of the CSC’s six development themes and provide an opportunity for attendees to engage in real-time Q&A discussion on the topic presented.
You can watch previous webinars on the CSC’s YouTube channel.
Dr Junaid Mir is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering at the University of Engineering and Technology (UET), Taxila, Pakistan, and Co-Principal Investigator at the Swarm Robotics Lab within the National Centre for Robotics and Automation (NCRA). His work focuses on signal, image, and video processing, machine learning, and biomedical engineering, with an emphasis on developing applied AI solutions for real-world challenges.
He has contributed to several national and international research projects on AI-driven security and education, including deepfake audio detection, generative AI in higher education, and remote identity verification systems. Alongside his research, he is actively involved in teaching, student supervision, and capacity-building initiatives, collaborating on programmes supported by Erasmus+ and the British Council. His work reflects a strong commitment to bridging research and practice in engineering education and technology development in Pakistan.
Dr Junaid Mir is a 2013 Commonwealth PhD Scholar from Pakistan. He completed his PhD in Video and Image Processing at University of Surrey.
