Pakistan achieved another milestone in international science competitions by winning three Bronze Medals at the 56th International Physics Olympiad (IPhO), held in Bucaramanga, Colombia, from July 04-12.

The Pakistani team secured Bronze Medals through Zulfiqar Ali of Government City Boys School, Dera Ghazi Khan, Ali Hamdan Alvi of FG Sir Syed College, Rawalpindi, and Daniyal Shahzad Hamid of The Science School, Rawat, Islamabad. Hazza Mahmood of Aitchison College, Lahore, and Abdullah Ejaz of Siddeeq Public School, Rawalpindi, earned Honorable Mentions for their commendable performance.

The 56th International Physics Olympiad brought together more than 400 outstanding students from over 90 countries, providing a prestigious platform for young physicists to demonstrate their scientific knowledge and problem-solving abilities.

The students were selected through the 22nd National Science Talent Contest (NSTC) conducted under the STEM Careers Programme, a joint initiative of the Higher Education Commission (HEC) and the Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences (PIEAS). Following a rigorous nationwide selection process, the selected students underwent a series of intensive residential training camps at the PIEAS campus, where they received advanced theoretical and experimental training from both national and international experts.

This comprehensive preparation enabled the students to compete at the highest international level and represent Pakistan with distinction at the 56th International Physics Olympiad. The Pakistan team was led by Prof. Dr Muhammad Irfan and Dr Muhammad Waseem of PIEAS.

Working under the auspices of the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC), PIEAS organises the National Science Talent Contest annually in Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and Mathematics to identify and nurture talented students at the secondary and higher secondary levels, including students of Classes 9 and 10, O-Level, and F.Sc. Part-I and A-Level Part-I.

The NSTC is conducted in 19 cities across Pakistan. The top-performing students are invited to a series of residential training camps, where they receive advanced scientific instruction before the national teams are selected for participation in the International Science Olympiads (ISOs).

The STEM Careers Programme Office at HEC coordinates these training activities and facilitates Pakistan’s participation in the international competitions.

The Home Institutes for the programme include PIEAS for Physics, NIBGE-C (PIEAS) for Biology, the HEJ Research Institute of Chemistry at the University of Karachi for Chemistry, and COMSATS University Islamabad, Lahore Campus, for Mathematics.

Pakistan has been participating in the International Physics Olympiad since 2001, the International Mathematical Olympiad since 2005, and the International Biology and Chemistry Olympiads since 2006.

Since the inception of the STEM Careers Programme, more than 365 Pakistani students have represented the country at the International Science Olympiads, winning a total of 144 medals. In addition, over 5,000 students have benefited from more than 256 advanced training camps conducted under the programme.

Through institutions such as PIEAS and its continued support for science education, advanced research, and human resource development, the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) remains committed to nurturing young scientific talent and promoting excellence in science and technology for the country’s socio-economic development.