ISLAMABAD: The award distribution ceremony for the seventh National Science Talent Contest (NSTC) was held at Higher Education Commission (HEC) secretariat on Tuesday.

HEC Chairman Dr Javed Laghari presided over the ceremony. The students groomed under the NSTC participate in International Science Olympiads in Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics and Physics. All the four members of Pakistani team won bronze medals in International Biology Olympiad held in Taiwan. Two students won Bronze Medals and two Honorable Mentions in International Physics Olympiad hosted by Thailand. Two of the four Pakistani team won Bronze Medals, while one of them clinched Honorable Mention in International Chemistry Olympiad held in Turkey. In the International Mathematical Olympiad held in Netherlands one student won Bronze Medal and one Honorable Mention. All the competitions were held in July this year.

Speaking on the occasion, Laghari said that the talented youth of Pakistan. “I am happy to see that the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Careers programme, a joint venture of HEC, Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) provide avenues for international competitions for these youngsters. This is an innovative and enterprising activity for encouraging and providing incentive to the youth.” He added.

Laghari also said that trained and educated human mind was recognized as the most precious asset of a country since it was able to overcome any short-coming in resources a country may face. “Pakistan is doubly blessed with an abundance of natural resources as well as bright young minds, however, it is only through education that we will be able to make use of our resources and rapidly progress like developed countries of the world.” He expressed. HEC Executive Director (ED) Dr Sohail Naqvi appreciated the winners of International Science Olympiads, adding that he was seeing future of Pakistan in safe hands, this ceremony was organized not to recognize the prizes that those students had won but the talent that they had and they had taken the world head on and made their country proud.

He shared with the audience the achievements of HEC over the nine years, explaining how different initiatives have changed the overall landscape of higher education in Pakistan.

NSTC is an extension of the National Physics Talent Contest (NPTC) that was launched by PAEC in 1995. The key objective of NPTC was to give recognition at the highest level to talented science students who excel in the national competitions and represent the country in the International Olympiad in Physics.Daily Times.