By Muhammad Aftab Alam
Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences (PIEAS), one of the leading universities in Pakistan, has earned a distinguished reputation in global academic sphere for its outstanding standards and ground-breaking contributions in the field of engineering and applied sciences.
Founded in 1967 as the Reactor School under the auspices of Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC), it embarked on a mission of training indigenous human resource and address the growing need for highly skilled professionals in nuclear science and technology.
The institution was renamed as Centre for Nuclear Studies (CNS) in 1976, reflecting its expansion into other allied disciplines to cater to emerging national technological needs, and later became PIEAS in 1997.
In 2000, it was officially designated as a university by the Government of Pakistan, with President of Pakistan being its Chancellor.
PIEAS offers 39-degree programs at various levels in engineering and science disciplines.
Several of these programs are unique to PIEAS and designed to address the country’s specific needs, preparing skilled professionals in critical fields such as nuclear energy, medical technology, cancer treatment, material sciences, agriculture, and environmental sustainability.
The human resource trained through these programs are playing a pivotal role in country’s inclusive growth and supporting sustainable development, both within Pakistan and globally.
Some of these programs are offered at its four constituent colleges namely Karachi Institute of Power Engineering (KINPOE), National Institute for Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering (NIBGE) and Nuclear Institute for Agriculture and Biology (NIAB) in Faisalabad, and National Institute of Lasers and Optronics (NILOP) in Islamabad.
PIEAS graduates have formed the backbone of Pakistan’s Nuclear Energy Sector playing key roles in managing six nuclear power plants producing about 3530 MW, reducing the country’s reliance on fossil fuels and mitigating the effects of climate change in accordance with United Nation’s SDG 7.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has also recognized the exceptional technical and engineering capabilities of PIEAS by establishing it as IAEA Collaborating Centre. PIEAS also hosts the prestigious IAEA Marie Curie Fellowships for women in nuclear science and technology.
PIEAS graduates from Nuclear Medicine, Radiation & Oncology, and Medical Physics constitute majority of the workforce in all PAEC cancer hospitals across Pakistan.
The constituent colleges of PIEAS, NIBGE-C and NIAB-C are at the forefront of realizing the government’s vision for agricultural self-reliance by providing farmers with top-quality, high-yield, and climate-smart crop varieties.
The history of PIEAS is marked by the accomplishments of its distinguished graduates. PIEAS Alumni have etched their mark across various sectors, from spearheading advancements in nuclear energy, agriculture and revolutionizing healthcare.
These contributions have been recognized at the national level and can be judged by more than 100 civil awards conferred on its graduates including Hilal-e-Imtiaz, Sitara-e-Imtiaz, Tamgha-e-Imtiaz and Pride of Performance.
PIEAS has been recognized for its excellence in teaching and research at the national and international levels. PIEAS was ranked as the Number 1 Engineering University of the country in the first Higher Education Commission (HEC) national rankings in year 2006, this was maintained in the subsequent rankings of 2010 and 2013.
In May 2014, Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) Asian University Rankings placed PIEAS at No. 1 position in Pakistan. Over the last few years PIEAS has been ranked amongst the topmost University in QS International, Asian and Top 50 under 50 categories.
To inspire the potential youth of the nation to pursue careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), PIEAS in collaboration with HEC manages a STEM Careers Program since 2003.
These STEM teams participate and raise the national flag in International Science Olympiads (ISOs) in Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics and Physics organized across the world. The ISO participants have been able to secure 144 medals for Pakistan.
PIEAS & HEC also jointly organise the interaction with Nobel Laureates in Council for Nobel Laureate Meetings in Lindau, Germany.
PIEAS is continuously expanding its horizons and remains committed to forging Pakistan future through excellence in education and research, contributing significantly to national development and global scientific progress.
The author is an active media practitioner and his additional area of expertise is nuclear sciences. He can be reached through journalistinmaking@gmail.com.