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Home , Munir Ahmad Khan, Riazuddin (physicist)

Pride of Dr. Ishfaq Ahmad

Pages: 8 Vol: IX Issue No: 06 February 05 — 11, 2018

www.TechnologyTimes.Pk 3 November 1930 — 18 January 2018 A personal tribute to Dr. Ishfaq Ahmad, N.I., H.I., S.I.

Dr. I. E. Qureshi ith passing away of Dr. Ishfaq Ahmad on 18th Jan. 2018, Pakistan lost an iconic scientific leader, who had been associated, directly or indirectly, with every significant development on Pakistan’s scientific scene for well over half a century. In particular, his name was synon- ymous with Pakistan Atomic Energy Commis- Wsion (PAEC), where he served for more than four decades in various positions. Significantly, he started his service in PAEC in 1960 as a ‘Group Leader’ and subsequently occupied various posts of the rank of directorship or higher. So, it can be safely stated that he played a leadership role throughout his career in PAEC, although he was entrusted with the top-most slot of Chairmanship when he had already crossed 60. His dynamism as Chairman PAEC during a ten years’ tenure speaks volumes about his enormous energy and drive. In spite of an absolute lack of inclination for self-projection, his impact on the scientific community of Pakistan has always been conspicuous. Some of the stalwarts of science and technology in Pakistan owe their successful careers to his direct patronage or in- direct support. I first saw him when he interviewed me as an applicant for the post of Senior Scientific Officer in PAEC in 1980, resulting in my appointment in PINSTECH1). With his second highest-most status in PAEC and my considerably junior position I could pay my respects to him only from a distance whenever there were occasions to see him in PAEC functions. Many years later, he got to know me per- sonally, perhaps because of some good words that he heard about my work in Theoretical Group at PINSTECH. As my career progressed and I occupied senior positions in PINSTECH, there were more and more occasions at which I could interact with him person- ally and observe multifarious aspects of his charismatic personality. He too, perhaps became more appreciative of my research work, leading to a mutually respectful bond of mentor and protégé. He encouraged me to play a role in CERN2)-PAEC collaboration pro- grammes, nudged me towards doing computer programming related to a classified project, backed me along with Dr. Aslam Baig3) to get NCP4) going during its nascent phase, confided me with his desire to enhance the presence of at ICTP5) which gave me the confidence to get elected as President ICTP-Pakistan Chapter, wel- comed me as a member of International Nathiagali Summer College organizing committee, endorsed my participation in a delegation to China for discussing broader research collaboration, and finally, even long after his retirement from PAEC, played a crucial role in my A versatile theoretical , appointment as Executive Director COMSATS6). Apart from his tangible patronage, I found out that sometimes his a patriot Pakistani who worked for mere words of encouragement were sufficient for someone to get energized. His mildly uttered suggestions starting with, “why don’t the motherland with complete you.....” have made many to spring into action and achieve some- devotion and determination! thing substantial. I too had the occasions of being subjected to these Continued on page 2 February 05 — 11, 2018 Pride of Pakistan: Dr. Ishfaq Ahmad 02 – TechnologyTimes.Pk From page 1: A personal tribute to Dr. Ishfaq Ahmad, N.I., H.I., S.I. iors but I guess he must have In general, Pakistanis lack the been very respectful to Mr. Mu- psyche of glorifying individuals nir Ahmad Khan12). Speaking at who make exceptional intellectu- the farewell function of Mr. , al and scientific contributions. Dr. organized in PINSTECH auditori- Ishfaq Ahmad has to his credit an um, he paid rich tributes to the unmatched array of outstanding departing Chairman and added achievements in his different that he would always be “our roles as Chairman PAEC, Advisor Chairman”. However, what he to the Chief Executive, Advisor to expressed most openly was his the Prime Minister, Senior Advi- admiration and regard for Prof. sor to the Planning Commission . He also shared of Pakistan, President of the Pa- with me a couple of incidents in kistani Academy of Sciences, which Salam admonished him and he is the recipient of nu- for some reasons, but he re- merous honours and awards in- called these occasions with full cluding the highest civil award of understanding and respect for Pakistan, Nishan-i-Imtiaz, but his Salam’s feelings. He took strong unassuming nature and shyness exception to the much touted of media exposure had prevented narrative that Salam is denigrat- him to be idolized as a scientific ed in Pakistan because of his hero. May be, now that he is no faith. In a lounge conversation, more, his contributions to Paki- Dr. Ishfaq noted that the actions stan would be adequately high- of a few fanatics or the opinions lighted; thereby, projecting him of a relatively small group of peo- as a role-model par excellence, ple cannot be construed to define for younger generations. the attitude of the entire nation. Footnotes: Pakistan has conferred its high- est civil award on Salam, issued 1) Pakistan Institute of Nuclear Dr. Ishfaq Ahmad played a pivotal role in the creation commemorative stamp with his Science and Technology at portrait, awarded honorus causa Nilore near , is the of NCP on the pattern of The Abdus Salam International degrees, his birthday is celebrat- R&D flagship facility of PAEC. ed every year, and there is hardly 2) European Organization for any scientific activity in Pakistan Nuclear Research, with its Center for (ICTP). He served as the which is not accompanied by French acronym CERN is lo- eulogizing his colossal status cated at the Franco-Swiss Chairman of Board of Governors (BoG) of NCP from 2003 in the world of science. With border near Geneva, Switzer- an air of satisfaction, he added land. that Prof. Salam had four major 3) Dr. Baig has been the Chair- to 2018. His vision of science and wisdom to deal with wishes with respect to scientific man, Physics Department in progress in Pakistan, and all four Quaid-i-Azam University. the science projects were the guiding principles for NCP have been materialized. First, he 4) National Centre for Physics, wanted that renowned Quaid-i-Azam University from across the world should campus, Islamabad. management be invited in an annual summer college. That came to be in the 5) The ‘International Centre for form of International Nathiaga- Theoretical Physics’ founded li Summer College, which has by Pakistani Nobel laureate, been held with great regulatory, Prof. Abdus Salam. Now it alluring words, as in the case of glimpse of his far-sightedness with was not the barbequed fish with ever new themes, since has been named after him as organizing a seminar to celebrate imagine that at age 40, as Direc- in his plate, but the opportunities 1976. Second, he wanted a per- ‘AS-ICTP’. the then newly adopted ‘World tor Pakistan Atomic Energy Min- of research in the nearby Elletra manent ICTP-like institution in 6) COMSATS is the acronym of Science Day’ for the first time in eral Centre in , he initiated Synchrotron9) that had opened Pakistan that could provide the ‘Commission on Science and Pakistan – a day which was in- work on uranium processing that its doors for experimental re- of Pakistan a base for Technology for Sustainable cluded in the calendar of United would form the basis of fuel fab- search work through the good of- training and research at the cut- development in the South’. It Nations activities at his behest. rication and uranium enrichment. fices of ICTP. He asked the host ting edge of science and emerg- is an international organiza- During my visit to CERN at a He strongly believed in acquir- of the dinner, Dr. Faheem Hus- ing technologies. This advice tion with 24 developing coun- time when major financial con- ing all aspects of nuclear tech- sain10), to arrange my visit to was realized in the form of Na- tries as its Member States. tribution by PAEC to CERN was nology, both civil and military, the facility so that I could dis- tional Centre for Physics located being deliberated, he advised me and worked tirelessly to achieve seminate relevant information 7) The ‘International Institute for in the vicinity of Quaid-i-Azam to consult Dr. Muhammad Afzal, these goals. With remarkable to researchers at PINSTECH. Applied Systems Analysis’ University in Islamabad. Third, Minister (Technical), at the Per- ability to create synergy among He was ever ready to meet (IIASA) is a non-governmen- he wished that a prize be given manent Mission of Pakistan to teams of workers engaged in di- Pakistani ICTP Associates11) tal research organizations annually to outstanding physi- the in Geneva. verse projects, he provided crit- when he happened to be in Tri- based in . cists out of the proceeds of his Some years later I myself occu- ically important leadership for este, and to hear about their re- 8) The Italian City of in Nobel Prize money. Thus ‘Salam pied Dr. Afzal’s post and played completing required tasks with search work with keen interest. northern is the home of Prize’ for physics and mathe- my role in advancing CERN-Pa- minimal resources. Pakistan was The easy-going blend of his AS-ICTP. matics was instituted and is giv- kistan collaboration. There were lucky to have him as Chairman questions, remarks and advice, 9) Elettra is an Italian third-gen- en to Pakistani scientists every also occasions when I could not PAEC when in 1998 the ultimate would visibly create an aura eration synchrotron radiation year. Finally, he wanted Pakistan achieve what he desired; one of strategic threat to country’s sur- of confidence among his audi- facility located on the out- to play a leadership role for the which was to establish a liaison vival knocked at its doors. A calm ence of all age groups. When skirts of Trieste, which has promotion of science and tech- office for Pakistan-IIASA7) col- and composed custodian of nu- it came to making speeches in been operational since 1993. nology in developing countries. laboration at COMSATS Head- clear deterrent assets did his job a big gathering or narrating an Pakistan lived up to his expecta- 10)Professor Fahim Hussain quarters. Considering that he without making any ‘fatherhood’ incident to a few individuals, tions and successfully launched served as staff at influenced the working lives of claims. there was hardly any change in COMSATS. The Secretariat of AS-ICTP from 1990 to 2004. hundreds of scientists in PAEC his style. With enviable mem- Perhaps Dr. Ishfaq had more of this international organization He was initially associated and in other organizations during ory and remarkable ease with a ‘motherhood’ instinct of caring, focussing on sustainable devel- with Diploma Programme and his long and illustrious career, words, he would recount long providing and protecting, both opment in the South is hosted later became Head of ICTP’s it will be no exaggeration to re- past events in a mellow voice, the ‘homes’ comprising of sci- by the , Office of External Activities. gard him as the ‘Master Mentor’ interjected by caution, stress or entific institutions and the ‘chil- which also bears its recurring 11)‘Associate’ is a designation of Pakistan’s scientific elite. His comments that would absolute- dren’ constituting scientific man- establishment expenses. These used for a scientist who has uncanny ability of seeing far ly mesmerise the listeners. With power. He never seemed to lose are the most significant and en- been selected to visit ICTP into the future and indefatigable a treasure trove of information interest in listening to what was during tributes paid to Salam by periodically for a certain spirit of getting things done was locked in his mind, it was not being done in academics and by Pakistani scientific communi- number of years. responsible for remarkable sci- surprising that he was prone to whom, while constantly think- ty, and these are the ones that entific programmes within PAEC digressing into secondary top- 12) Mr. was ing about what could be done should define Salam’s status and beyond. Perhaps no single ics, but never failing to recover appointed as Chairman PAEC more and how. I witnessed him in Pakistan. With characteristic person is fully abreast of his his main theme in an effortless in 1972 and served in this ca- sitting in a restaurant at the foot modesty, Dr. Ishfaq Ahmad did entire spectrum of contributions manner. pacity for 19 years. of Adriatic Sea in Trieste8), with not mention that he played a sig- in the progress of science and the aroma of gourmet food all I have very little knowledge of nificant role in all these achieve- The author is Ex- Chief Scientist PAEC, and technology in Pakistan. To get a around, what he was engrossed how he interacted with his sen- ments. Ex- Executive Director COMSATS. February 05 — 11, 2018 Pride of Pakistan: Dr. Ishfaq Ahmad 03 – TechnologyTimes.Pk Scientific activities of Dr. Ahmad Love of science for Pakistan Ishfaq Ahmad, D.Sc., Minister of State, SI, HI, NI, FPAS, Dr. Ishfaq Ahmed’s contributions to Pakistan are dotted was a Pakistani nuclear physicist, emeritus professor of with firsts. He, as the president of the Pakistan Atomic high-energy physics at the National Center for Physics, Energy Commission, laid the foundations for co-operation and former science advisor to the Government of Paki- between Pakistan and CERN in the . stan. A versatile theoretical physicist, Dr. Ahmad made He was instrumental in conducting the Pakistani Nuclear Wikipedia significant contributions in the theoretical ..... Yousuf Mehmood tests in 1998 as a reply to ’s Pokhran-II tests. He ..... Scientific activities of Dr. Ahmad shfaq Ahmad, D.Sc., Min- ficial at the IAEA as part of the In the 1990s, Dr. Ahmad to cater for special needs of the long-standing public advocacy ister of State, SI, HI, NI, Pakistan Government’s official played a pivotal role in building developing countries. In this re- for the plants for FPAS, was a Pakistani nu- mission, working to make the closer relations with the CERN, gard a Standing Advisory Group the industrial and socio-econom- clear physicist, emeritus peaceful use of nuclear power and lobbied tirelessly for PAEC to on Technical Assistance and Co- ic growth. professor of high-energy for the industrial development. reach an agreement with CERN. operation (SAGTAC) was estab- On international forums, Dr. physics at the National Having chaired the PAEC from In 2000, another treaty be- lished; Dr. Ahmad served as the Ahmad deterred the international Center for Physics, and 1991 until 2001, he has been af- tween PAEC and CERN was first Chairman of the Group. pressure mounted on Pakistan Iformer science advisor to the filiated with the Pakistan Govern- signed that covered the con- After his retirement from after conducting its tests, instead Government of Pakistan. ment as a Science adviser to the struction of the resistive plate PAEC, Dr. Ahmad developed highlighted the achievements A versatile theoretical physi- Prime minister on strategic and chambers required for the CMS keen scientific interest in the gained by Pakistan on its nuclear cist, Dr. Ahmad made significant scientific programs, with the sta- system. science of climate change. This power infrastructure in the coun- tus of Minister of State. A vehe- contributions in the theoretical In 1960, Dr. Ahmad joined the interest lead to the creation of try as well as the need of Paki- ment supporter for the peaceful development of the applications Pakistan Atomic Energy Com- 2 new centre viz Global Change stan’s usage of nuclear power for use of nuclear energy, he earned and concepts involving the par- mission (PAEC) as senior scien- Impact Studies Centre (GCISC) its economical growth. public and international fame in ticle physics, and its relative tist and was allowed to proceed and Center for Earthquake Stud- In 2012, Dr. Ahmad lobbied May 1998 when he oversaw and extension to the quantum elec- aborad for post-doctoral work at ies (CES), both initially attached for the HMC-3 consortium to be directed PAEC to perform coun- trodynamics, while working as several of the world’s most re- to the National Center for Physics listed as first commercial nucle- try’s first public atomic tests in senior research scientist at the nowned research institutions. (NCP) in Islamabad. ar power corporation and helped CERN in 1960s and 1970s. Join- Balochistan Province of Pakistan. Dr. Ahmad became Chair- Dr. Ahmad sereved as elected the consortium to acquired its ing the PAEC in late 1950s, Dr. He died on 18 January 2018, man of the PAEC in 1991 and President of the Pakistan Acad- first license to manufacture nu- Ahmad served as the director of aged 87 in Lahore. remained its Chairman from 13 emy of Sciences and is the life- clear materials for industrial the Division at In the 1990s, Dr. Ahmad March 1991 to 19 December time Chairman of the Board of power plants. the Pinstech Institute which de- played a pivotal role in building 2001. Governors of the National Center In 1989, Dr. Ishfaq Ahmad veloped the first designs of atom- closer relations with the CERN, for Physics (NCP) — a research While he was Chairman PAEC, was bestowed with state honour, ic bombs, a clandestine project and lobbied tirelessly for PAEC to institute established on the pat- he has been heading the coun- Sitara-e-Imtiaz; and Hilal-e-Imti- during the post-1971 war. There, reach an agreement with CERN. tern of International Center for try’s delegation at the Interna- az in 1995. In 1998, Dr. Ahmad he played an influential role in In 1997, Dr. Ahmad, as chair Theoretical Physics (ICTP) at Tri- tional Atomic Energy Agency received the highest state hon- leading the physics and mathe- of PAEC, signed an agreement este, Italy. (IAEA) in , Austria. At our, Nishan-e-Imtiaz, for his ser- matical calculations in the critical with CERN in the up gradation IAEA, he was always very keen He also put Pakistan on the vices to the country. mass of the weapons, and did of the CMS detector and the fi- for getting technical support and governing Council of the Inter- theoretical work on the implosion nancial contribution worth one This article is extracted from Wikipedia. the breaking of the isololation of national Institute for Applied Sys- method used in the weapons. million SFr for the construction Wikipedia is a free online encyclopedia, scientists from third world. On tems Analysis (IIASA), Austria. Since 1960s and onwards, of eight magnetic rings for the created and edited by volunteers around his persuasion IAEA’s technical Dr. Ishfaq Ahmad is in- he has been a high-ranking of- detector. the world and hosted by the Wikimedia assistance program was adapted ternationally known for his Foundation. Love of science for Pakistan Yousuf Mehmood r. Ishfaq Ahmed’s honoured with the Sitara-e-Im- Under Dr. Abdus Salam, Dr. contributions to tiaz, the Hilal-e-Imtiaz and the Ahmed saw Pakistan gain ac- Pakistan are dot- Nishan-e-Imtiaz. All in all, it’s a cess to nuclear emulsions from ted with firsts. He, wonderful career to have had. CERN to study subatomic parti- “I had only one wish – that my own as the president What comes across strongest in cles such as and kaons for of the Pakistan his career however, is not a drive the first time. He also saw Abdus country, Pakistan, should somehow Atomic Energy due to the love of science, but Salam’s theories being verified DCommission, laid the founda- due to a love of Pakistan. at CERN and him eventually win- tions for co-operation between Dr. Ishfaq Ahmed’s achieve- ning the . become involved in scientific Pakistan and CERN in the Large ments all seem to point towards When he visited CERN in 1994 as Hadron Collider. He was instru- bettering Pakistan, strengthening the head of the Pakistan Atomic collaboration with CERN.” CERN and mental in conducting the Paki- Pakistan and preparing Pakistan Energy Commission he saw that stani Nuclear tests in 1998 as a for the world stage. His involve- the world was moving fast in the reply to India’s Pokhran-II tests. ment in CERN wasn’t merely due fields of science and that Paki- Pakistan: a personal perspective He also created the first centre to its international repute; though stan could not be left behind. for Experimental Physics in Paki- that was definitely a major factor; Another surge of patriotism (October 5th, 2003) stan, the National Centre of Phys- it was due to his inspiration: Dr. overtook him when he heard of ics, in 1998. He has also been Abdus Salam. the Pokhran-II tests. He was in Canada at the time, giving lec- tures on quantum radiation (did In light of the recent floods and word “hero” in our minds. It’s I forget to mention he has writ- droughts that have hit Pakistan, it either a soldier going in to the ten papers on quantum electro- would be foolish to disregard Dr. field of battle or a pilot swerving dynamics?). He left for Pakistan Ishfaq Ahmed’s creation of the around enemy jets in a secluded immediately and ended up per- Global Change Impact Studies air field and taking them out. Well sonally supervising and naming Centre. The centre studies cli- I think a scientist who has done the Chagai Nuclear tests. mate change and global warming all he can to make sure Pakistan If that wasn’t enough, after and works in collaboration with is prepared to face the world the Kashmir Earthquake of 2005 the National Met. Department, head on in the field of knowledge he founded the Centre for Earth- WAPDA, the National Agricultural deserves no less recognition quake Studies to better prepare Centre etc. from us. for the natural disaster if it oc- We Pakistanis tend to have Courtesy: nustscienceblog.wordpress.com curred again. a very specific definition of the February 05 — 11, 2018 Pride of Pakistan: Dr. Ishfaq Ahmad 04 – TechnologyTimes.Pk CERN & Pakistan: a personal perspective So I met the scientist The informal scientific co-operation between CERN and The seminar started off with the customary introduction Pakistan dates back to the 1960s, when Pakistan was of our guest, and his many achievements. Dr. Ishfaq introduced to CERN through Abdus Salam, the coun- proved to be relaxed and down-to-earth, preferring to sit try’s only Nobel Laureate. Salam had a desire that a instead of stand at the podium, and shared with the stu- group of Pakistani scientists commit themselves to both dents his journey, from Punjab University in the 1950s, Dr. Ishfaq Ahmad theoretical and experimental high-energy physics..... Zainab Khawaja to the honor of being awarded first the Sitara Imtiaz..... CERN & Pakistan: a personal perspective Dr. Ishfaq Ahmad (Late), N.I., H.I., S.I. he informal scien- Institute of Theoretical Physics in tribution from one to two million the globe will access LHC data; 23rd International Nathiagali Sum- tific co-operation Copenhagen (now the Niels Bohr Swiss francs. This new agreement this implies a need for distributed mer College on Physics and Con- between CERN and Institute) to perform a nuclear covered the construction of the computing. In recent years, a new temporary Needs, I announced Pakistan dates back emulsion experiment. During my resistive plate chambers required approach in computing is emerg- the creation of the National Centre to the 1960s, when visit in 1994, I was fascinated to for the CMS muon system. Re- ing, called the Grid. The Grid is of Physics (NCP) and invited the Pakistan was in- see the exciting developments in cently, a protocol has been signed a natural evolution of the World well-known Pakistani theoretical troduced to CERN physics that were taking place at enhancing Pakistan’s total contri- Wide Web, which was invented physicist to head the Tthrough Abdus Salam, the coun- CERN, and I had only one wish bution to the LHC programme to at CERN in 1991. While the Web centre, which he kindly accepted. try’s only Nobel Laureate. Salam - that my own country, Pakistan, $10 million. I very much hope and made information retrieval via the The NCP is the cradle and the had a desire that a group of Pa- should somehow become in- wish that these developments may Internet extremely easy and sim- focal point for all CERN-related kistani scientists commit them- volved in scientific collaboration eventually lead to Pakistan becom- ple, the proper implementation activities in Pakistan. At present, selves to both theoretical and with CERN, and that our physi- ing an observer state at CERN. of the Grid will allow information the centre is involved in a number experimental high-energy phys- cists and engineers could also be- A source of inspiration processing and the solving of of LHC-related activities such as ics. On the suggestion of Salam, come part of the most advanced, complex problems that would One of the inspirations for sci- detector construction, detector stacks of nuclear emulsion ex- challenging and rewarding scien- otherwise require supercomput- simulation, physics analysis and posed at CERN were provided to tific endeavour: the Large Hadron entific co-operation with CERN ers, in a very simple manner. Grid was Salam’s theories, which were Grid computing. Several other Pakistan for the study of pions, Collider (LHC). computing will be particularly Pakistani institutes are also col- kaons and antiprotons. In this in- always at the forefront of CERN’s useful for developing countries, On my return to Pakistan, I scientific programme. Salam, laborating with CERN indirectly formal co-operation, Owen Lock kept my contacts with CERN, where the cost of a supercom- through the NCP. The activities of from CERN and the newly created Sheldon Glashow and Steven puter is prohibitive and there are and a few months later a co-op- Weinberg formulated the theory these institutes cover areas such Pakistan Atomic Energy Commis- eration agreement was approved also political difficulties in their as software development, man- sion (PAEC) played an important that unified the electromagnetic purchase. It is very important for by the government of Pakistan, and weak interaction and predict- ufacturing of mechanical equip- role. Nuclear emulsions were later which was signed by me, as Pakistan to establish the proper ment, alignment of the CMS track- superseded by newer particle-de- ed the existence of weak neutral infrastructure for Grid computing chairman of PAEC, and the then currents. In 1973, neutral currents er using lasers, and the testing of tection techniques, and gradually director-general of CERN, Chris to acquire the full benefits of its electronic equipment. this activity faded away. Mean- were observed at CERN, verifying investment in the LHC. Llewellyn Smith, who has now Former CERN director-gener- while, some theoretical physicists the theory. The discovery created been appointed as director of the Coming back to Pakistan, it is al Victor Weisskopf wrote in his from Pakistan had the opportunity quite a lot of excitement in Paki- UK Atomic Energy Authority’s fu- important to note that due to the book The Joy of Insight that an- to work at CERN through short stan because of Salam. A later sion programme (CERN Courier influence of Salam, a number of ybody who enters CERN should visits. During the 1980s, some of important breakthrough was the September 2003 p39). In 1997, high-calibre Pakistani theoretical be regarded as European and the experimental physicists from discovery of the intermediate vec- PAEC signed an agreement for particle physicists were trained in no longer a citizen of any nation. Pakistan, specializing in the tech- tor bosons, W and Z, at CERN’s an in-kind contribution worth one the latter part of the 20th century. Now CERN is open to any scien- nique of Solid State Nuclear Track SPS in 1983. This provided yet million Swiss francs for the con- On the other hand, Pakistan has tist from anywhere in the world. Detectors (SSNTD), also benefit- another verification of the theory struction of eight magnet sup- always lagged behind in experi- Moreover, beyond its 20 Europe- ed from CERN by exposing the of Glashow, Salam and Weinberg ports for the CMS detector. The mental due to a an member states, CERN current- stacks in the beam at the Super (CERN Courier May 2003 p26). signing of the agreement was lack of resources. It was strongly ly has co-operation agreements Proton Synchrotron (SPS). followed by the visit of Llewellyn The importance of the Grid felt by the scientists of Pakistan with 30 countries. Had Weisskopf In 1994 I visited CERN as Smith to Pakistan in 1998. The The amount and size of experi- that a national centre for physics been alive today, he would proba- chairman of PAEC. The visit took agreement provided an entry point mental data generated at the LHC of very high international stand- bly have rephrased his remark by place on the initiative of Pakistani for Pakistani scientists and engi- will pose the greatest challenge ards was needed. In 1994, I led saying that “anybody who enters physicist Ahmed Ali, who works at neers into the CMS collaboration. to the physicists. The collection, a group of physicists to meet the CERN is a citizen of the world”. DESY. It brought back good mem- In 2000, CERN’s new direc- storage, retrieval and analysis of to discuss ories of my earlier visits, which tor-general, Luciano Maiani, vis- LHC data will require novel tech- this issue, and the president very Ishfaq Ahmad, special advisor to the prime date back to 1962 when I came ited Pakistan, and during this visit niques in the field of information kindly approved the concept of minister of Pakistan and former chairman of the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission. to CERN as a young post-doctoral another agreement was signed, technology. The physicists work- such a centre. So in 1998, during fellow working at the University ing in different institutions around the inauguration ceremony of the Extracts from the article published in CERN which doubled the Pakistani con- COURIER on Oct 6, 2003. So I met the scientist he seminar started with entertaining anecdotes of velopment of nuclear technology role they play in this country. Not seminars, conferences, and stu- off with the custom- his life – everything from how he was a landmark achievement in just to show up at political rallies, dent-activity programs. Saying ary introduction of had to learn French in Montreal, our history, one that was by no and drop some votes in a ballot that the university that has made our guest, and his to how he keeps in touch with his means easy. The level of hard box – but to supplement the weak remarkable progress in the last many achievements. children through Skype. work and determination that went infrastructure of the country. In- ten years, Dr. Ishfaq congratulated Dr. Ishfaq proved Dr. Ishfaq encouraged the stu- into that initial project was one novations, patents, breakthroughs the Rector, on steering the univer- to be relaxed and dents to pursue both practical and that has rarely been seen in Paki- in technology – these are the sity on a path of success. Tdown-to-earth, preferring to sit theoretical work in their studies, stan since. It is just one example things that build a country from The hall was packed with stu- instead of stand at the podium, emphasizing that it was only a of what we can do if we put our the ground up. As a privileged few dents from all across NUST – the and shared with the students his mixture of both that led to a prop- hearts and minds to it. Too often, who were accepted into NUST, business school, EME, as well journey, from Punjab University in er understanding of the subject Pakistani youth are faced with indeed as the privileged few who as from the engineering schools the 1950s, to the honor of being at hand. He spoke of his experi- stories of failure, or inability, of can afford a university education, in H-12 – eager to learn from awarded first the Sitara Imtiaz, ence in studying nuclear particle incompetence. it should be every student’s goal someone who has contributed so then then the Hilal-i-Imtiaz and and quantum electrodynamics, of Studying at NUST, the coun- to bring a change. significantly to Pakistan and to the finally, the Nishan-i-Imtiaz, Paki- working on the Pakistani atomic try’s premier engineering univer- NUST is dedicated, both as field of physics at large. The sem- stan’s highest civilian decoration. bomb, along with nuclear weap- sity, each student must be aware a university, and as a center for inar ended with a strong round of Stressing that the future of sci- ons research programs, his expe- of the immense potential they on-going scientific research, applause and refreshments – and ence in Pakistan, and around the rience with the IAEA, and with the hold within themselves. There is to strengthening Pakistan’s ed- over 300 students determined to world, rested in the hands of to- Planning Commission of Pakistan. a world of possibility. If necessity ucation sector, by providing achieve. day’s youth, he spoke of the pas- An important issue he ad- breeds invention, there is no lack high-quality education, and op- sion for and dedication to one’s This post was published in NUST NEWS (Oct- dressed was the stagnation of of necessity here. It is time that the portunities for research work, work. His speech was peppered Dec 2011, Vol. 2, Issue IV). innovation in Pakistan. The de- youth took a serious stance on the career advancement, and training