The HEC honours olympiad students who win medals abroad, and this year it has recognised 23 Pakistanis for their achievements at the 2026 International Science Olympiads, where they won seven medals and several other distinctions.
The students represented Pakistan in Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics and Artificial Intelligence. They brought home one silver medal, six bronze medals, five honourable mentions, one Certificate of Merit and one Certificate of Recognition.
Hassan Atif Cheema won the silver medal at the International Biology Olympiad, the best result in the Pakistani team. Pakistan also made its first official appearance at the International Olympiad in Artificial Intelligence, known as the IOAI.
HEC honours olympiad students at the ceremony
The achievements were celebrated at a ceremony organised by the STEM Careers Programme. Higher Education Commission Chairman Prof Dr Niaz Ahmad Akhtar attended as the chief guest.
The chairman congratulated the students and gave out cash prizes and certificates in recognition of their performance at the international competitions. He also praised the parents, teachers and mentors who had prepared the team.
Mentors from the Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences, COMSATS University Lahore, the National Institute for Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering Centre and the International Centre for Chemical and Biological Sciences at the University of Karachi all contributed to the students’ preparation.
Prof Dr Niaz Ahmad Akhtar reaffirmed the commitment of the Higher Education Commission and the government to promoting scientific talent. He said the aim was to support the next generation of scientists, researchers and innovators.
What the Olympiads involve
The International Science Olympiads are annual competitions for school and college students from around the world. Each subject has its own Olympiad, with national teams chosen through local trials and training camps.
The contests test far more than textbook knowledge. In Biology, Chemistry and Physics, pupils face long theory papers and laboratory tasks. In Mathematics, they tackle problems that demand original thinking. In Artificial Intelligence, the newest of the Olympiads, teams work on machine learning and problem-solving tasks.
Pakistan’s seven medals across five subjects show strength in depth rather than a single standout result. The team medalled in more than one discipline, and the honourable mentions add to a tally that points to a steady pipeline of young scientific talent.
Why the first AI Olympiad appearance matters
The debut at the International Olympiad in Artificial Intelligence carries its own weight. Artificial intelligence is now part of Pakistan’s education debate, from university courses to school curricula, and the country’s first official team at the IOAI marks its entry into the field’s main student competition.
The appearance also fits a wider pattern in Pakistani education. Universities have been adding AI programmes, and the government has spoken of building AI skills among young people. A team at the IOAI gives that effort a visible benchmark.
The result will also be watched by the institutions that train the teams. The STEM Careers Programme, which organised the ceremony, runs the selection and training that turns talented pupils into Olympiad medallists. Its mentors come from some of the country’s leading science institutions, and the 2026 results suggest the system is working.
What comes next for the students
For the 23 students, the medals open doors. Olympiad medallists often go on to leading universities in Pakistan and abroad, and the experience of competing at international level stays with them through their careers.
The cash prizes and certificates handed out at the ceremony recognise that achievement in public. They also send a signal to other pupils that science can bring recognition as well as academic success.
Pakistan’s universities have been climbing in international rankings, as shown by the latest QS Asia University Rankings, and the school system is changing too, with a smart syllabus for Classes 9 to 12 and new rules for university names in Punjab. The Olympiad results sit at the top of that pipeline, where the strongest pupils meet the world.
The challenge now is to keep the pipeline full. That means finding talented pupils early, training them well and funding their travel to competitions. The 2026 team’s seven medals give the programme a result to build on, and the first IOAI appearance gives it a new frontier to explore.
Frequently asked questions
How many medals did Pakistan win at the 2026 Science Olympiads?
Pakistan won seven medals: one silver and six bronze. The team also earned five honourable mentions, one Certificate of Merit and one Certificate of Recognition.
Who won the silver medal?
Hassan Atif Cheema won the silver medal at the International Biology Olympiad.
What is the IOAI?
The International Olympiad in Artificial Intelligence is the newest of the science Olympiads. Pakistan made its first official appearance at the event in 2026.
Who organised the ceremony?
The ceremony was organised by the STEM Careers Programme, with Higher Education Commission Chairman Prof Dr Niaz Ahmad Akhtar as the chief guest.
