Academic Milestone: Pakistan Secures Three Bronze Medals at 56th International Physics Olympiad

 

Pakistan has reached another significant milestone in international academic competitions, securing three Bronze Medals at the 56th International Physics Olympiad (IPhO), which took place in Bucaramanga, Colombia, from July 4 to 12, 2026.

The national team's bronze medalists include Zulfiqar Ali from Government City Boys School (Dera Ghazi Khan), Ali Hamdan Alvi from FG Sir Syed College (Rawalpindi), and Daniyal Shahzad Hamid from The Science School (Rawat, Islamabad). Additionally, Hazza Mahmood of Aitchison College (Lahore) and Abdullah Ejaz of Siddeeq Public School (Rawalpindi) received Honorable Mentions for their strong performances.

This year's IPhO brought together more than 400 top-tier students from over 90 countries, offering a highly competitive global arena for young physicists to test their advanced problem-solving skills.

Rigorous National Selection and Training

The competing students were discovered through the 22nd National Science Talent Contest (NSTC), an initiative run under the STEM Careers Program—a joint venture between the Higher Education Commission (HEC) and the Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences (PIEAS).

Following a strict nationwide screening process, the chosen finalists attended a series of intensive residential training camps at the PIEAS campus. There, they underwent rigorous theoretical and experimental preparation guided by both local and international physics experts. This deep training successfully equipped them to compete at the highest global tier. The delegation was led abroad by PIEAS faculty members Prof. Dr. Muhammad Irfan and Dr. Muhammad Waseem.

Long-Term Commitment to STEM Excellence

Operating under the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC), PIEAS runs the NSTC annually across Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and Mathematics. The contest targets high-potential secondary and higher secondary students (including Grades 9, 10, O-Level, F.Sc. Part-I, and A-Level Part-I) across 19 Pakistani cities.

Top scorers from the initial rounds are invited to specialized training camps where they receive advanced instruction before final national teams are selected. The STEM Careers Program Office at HEC oversees the logistics and coordinates Pakistan's presence at these international events.

Dedicated home institutions manage each academic discipline:

• Physics: PIEAS, Islamabad

• Biology: NIBGE-C (PIEAS), Faisalabad

• Chemistry: HEJ Research Institute of Chemistry, University of Karachi

• Mathematics: COMSATS University Islamabad, Lahore Campus

Pakistan’s history with the International Science Olympiads spans over two decades, beginning with Physics in 2001, Mathematics in 2005, and Biology and Chemistry in 2006. Since the launch of the STEM Careers Program, more than 365 Pakistani students have competed globally, bringing home a collective total of 144 medals. Furthermore, the program's 256+ advanced training camps have benefited over 5,000 young scholars nationwide, reflecting PAEC and PIEAS's ongoing commitment to cultivating scientific talent for the country's long-term socio-economic growth.