Pakistan won a silver medal and a merit certificate at the 37th International Biology Olympiad (IBO) 2026, held in Vilnius, Lithuania, from July 12 to 19, marking another achievement for the country’s students in international science competitions, Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) has confirmed.
Hassan Atif Cheema of International School Lahore secured the silver medal, while Muhammad Mutahir of Karachi Grammar School received a Merit Certificate.
The International Biology Olympiad brought together more than 350 high school students from over 90 countries and is regarded as one of the world’s leading biology competitions for school students
According to PAEC, 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 qualified through the 22nd National Science Talent Contest (NSTC) before undergoing residential training at the National Institute of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering (NIBGE).
In a statement, PAEC said it remained committed to promoting science education, advanced research and human resource development through institutions such as PIEAS. It said these efforts were aimed at nurturing young scientific talent and supporting Pakistan’s socio-economic development.
Pakistan has participated in the International Physics Olympiad since 2001, the International Mathematics Olympiad since 2005, and the International Biology and Chemistry Olympiads since 2006, according to PAEC.
The commission said that, since the launch of the STEM Careers Programme, more than 365 Pakistani students have represented the country at International Science Olympiads, winning 144 international medals.
It added that more than 5,000 students had received advanced scientific training through over 256 training camps, reflecting the programme’s continued focus on developing future scientists, researchers and innovators.
