In an era increasingly shaped by data-driven research and artificial intelligence (AI), graduate researchers hold a pivotal position in advancing knowledge and innovation. The ability to understand, interpret, and ethically apply both AI and data has become fundamental to conducting meaningful academic inquiry. This study examines the state of AI and data literacy among graduate researchers in Pakistan, highlighting intersections between these literacies and the challenges encountered during the research process. It adopts an explanatory sequential mixed-methods design, that combines quantitative survey data with qualitative interviews to provide a comprehensive overview.