- 9 Researchers Win Prestigious Awards for Outstanding Accomplishments
- Chairman HEC Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed Asserts Investment in Higher Education Bearing Frui
Islamabad, May 22, 2025: Higher Education Commission (HEC), Pakistan hosted on Thursday the 10th HEC Best Research Awards ceremony to celebrate the exceptional achievements of Pakistani researchers and faculty in various fields.
During the ceremony, graced by Chairman HEC Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed as chief guest, HEC conferred a total of nine awards, three each in the categories of Best Publication, Best Researcher, and Best Young Researcher across three broad disciplinary domains of Social Sciences, Arts & Humanities, Law, Education, Management, Public Policy; Physical Sciences, Engineering, Technology, Computer Science, Statistics, Mathematics; and, Life Sciences, Biological Sciences, Health, Pharmacy, Agriculture, Veterinary Sciences. The awards comprised Rs. 1 million for the Best Publication, Rs. 500,000 for the Best Researcher, and Rs. 500,000 for the Best Young Researcher.
Prof. Dr. Abdul Majid from University of Gujrat, Prof. Dr. Jawad Abbas from University of Central Punjab, and Prof. Dr. Abdul Rashid from Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission of Pakistan (PAECP) have won the Best Publication Awards. The Best Researcher Awards have been clinched by Prof. Dr. Muhammad Tahir Khalily from Shifa Tameer-e-Millat University (STMU) Islamabad, Prof. Dr. Muhammad Usman Akram from National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST) Islamabad, and Prof. Dr. Abdul Qayyum Rao from the University of the Punjab. Likewise, Dr. Waris Ali from University of Sahiwal, Dr. Muhammad Qasim Mehmood from Information Technology University Lahore, and Dr. Massab Umair from National Institute of Health Sciences have been awarded the Best Young Researcher Awards.
It is pertinent to mention here that the HEC Research Awards Programme was launched in 2009, aiming to recognize and reward outstanding research conducted by faculty members of higher education institutions. Over the past nine ceremonies, 279 awards have been conferred, setting a strong precedent for academic recognition in Pakistan.
Addressing the ceremony, Chairman HEC Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed lauded the contributions of Pakistan’s academic and research community towards the socio-economic development of the country. He emphasized the need for determined efforts to inspire researchers to contribute meaningfully to Pakistan, as he underlined that, “our existence lies in the existence of Pakistan.” He added that, “We are indebted to our motherland and must do our part to ensure its prosperity. This nation deserves to be a prosperous country.”
Discussing higher education’s impact, Dr. Ahmed said that the government, through HEC, has injected a massive amount into the sector, with over 400,000 scholarships awarded and a enabling state-of-the-art research facilities and a thriving research ecosystem. He maintained that the investment is bearing the fruit. He said that while Pakistan’s research output is high, there must now be a focus on ‘impact’.
The Chairman affirmed that nations only succeed when they work in tandem, combining knowledge, innovation, and patriotism. He proudly shared that the Pakistani university graduates and scholars and the recipients of HEC scholarships are making remarkable technology contributions to the country. He stressed that it is critical to sustain the contributions through continued innovation, collaboration, and commitment.
He informed the audience that 279 awards have been presented over the last nine cycles of the HEC Research Awards. He said that the 2024 call received an encouraging response, as a total of 151 applications were received. He added that 130 applicants stood eligible, while 43 were shortlisted for review. He concluded while paying homage to the academia and researchers, saying: “Pakistan recognizes your efforts. We are proud of our universities and researchers.”
The convenors of the scrutiny committees also expressed their views and shed light on the transparency and fairness in the the rigorous evaluation process. They also highlighted the effective use of HEC’s Research Grants Management System (RGMS).
The ceremony was organized by the Research & Innovation Division (R&ID) of HEC, which plays a pivotal role in strengthening the research ecosystem of the country. R&I Division connects academia with industry and promotes the development of high-impact, technology-driven solutions to address national priorities. A large number of Vice Chancellors, faculty members and researchers attended the event.
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Regards
Tariq Iqbal
Director (Media)
Higher Education Commission
Sector H-9, Islamabad, Pakistan
