The 50th International Nathiagali Summer College (INSC) on Physics and Contemporary Needs was inaugurated today at the National Centre for Physics (NCP).
The event is organized by the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC), which has been the principal host of the College since its inception.
The Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives, Professor Ahsan Iqbal, graced the occasion as the Chief Guest.
The event was attended by Chairman PAEC Dr.
Raja Ali Raza Anwar, Members and the Secretary of PAEC, officials from the SPD, academicians, researchers, and students from leading universities across the country.
In his address, the Chief Guest, Professor Ahsan Iqbal, congratulated PAEC for consistently organizing the College since 1976, calling it a jewel in Pakistan’s scientific crown.
He emphasized the transformative role of science and technology and urged participants to prepare for emerging global challenges.
Quoting verses from the Quran, he reminded the audience of Islam’s deep roots in the pursuit of knowledge, referencing the Islamic Golden Age as a period where science shaped the modern world.
Speaking on emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, he stressed the need for ethical governance, stating, “Science without ethics is dangerous.”
He highlighted government initiatives to align academia with industry, including the establishment of specialized National Centers for AI, Cybersecurity, Quantum Computing, and other critical fields—aimed at transforming Pakistan into a knowledge-based techno-economy.
