Pakistan shines at the International Biology Olympiad with a silver medal win

Pakistan earned a silver medal and a merit certificate at the 37th International Biology Olympiad (IBO) 2026, held in Vilnius, Lithuania. The international event brought together more than 350 outstanding high school students from over 90 countries, making it one of the world’s most respected biology competitions.

Hassan Atif Cheema from Lahore won the silver medal for Pakistan, while Muhammad Mutahir from Karachi received a Merit Certificate. Their achievements added another proud chapter to Pakistan’s growing success in international science competitions.

The Pakistani team was selected through the STEM Careers Programme, a joint initiative of the Higher Education Commission (HEC) and the Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences (PIEAS). The students first qualified through the 22nd National Science Talent Contest (NSTC).

After the selection process, the students received advanced residential training at the National Institute of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering (NIBGE), a constituent college of PIEAS working under the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC). According to PAEC, leading local and international experts trained the students to prepare them for the global competition.

Also Read: Big news for MS, MPhil, and PhD aspirants: HEC opens special aptitude test

The national team was led by Prof Dr Asma Imran and Dr Aamir Ali, who guided and supported the students throughout their training and participation in the Olympiad.

Pakistan has been participating in the International Physics Olympiad since 2001, the International Mathematics Olympiad since 2005, and the International Biology and Chemistry Olympiads since 2006. Over the years, the country has continued to improve its performance in international science contests.

Since the launch of the STEM Careers Programme, more than 365 Pakistani students have represented the country in International Science Olympiads, winning 144 international medals. More than 5,000 students have also received advanced scientific training through over 256 training camps.

The Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission said it remains committed to supporting science education, research and the development of young talent through institutions such as PIEAS. It believes these efforts will help strengthen Pakistan’s future in science, technology and national development.