Pakistan Wins First-Ever Gold at International Science Olympiad

In a historic achievement, Pakistan has won its first Gold Medal at the International Biology Olympiad (IBO) — a global competition for the brightest science students.

Abdul Raffay Paracha, a student of Siddique Public School, made the nation proud by clinching the Gold at the 35th IBO, held in the Philippines from July 20–27, 2025.

This win is a major milestone under the Pakistan Gold Medal International Science Olympiad campaign, part of the STEM Careers Programme — a joint initiative of the Higher Education Commission (HEC) and PIEAS (Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences).

The national team was mentored by Dr. Asma Imran and Dr. Asma Rehman from NIBGE, a leading biotech institute under PIEAS and the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC).

More Wins for Team Pakistan

• Ayyan Aslam, from Government College University Lahore, earned an Honourable Mention.

• Team members Sadia Zulfiqar (Siddique Public School, Rawalpindi) and Arooj Fatima (Fusion College, Shakargarh) also represented Pakistan.

PIEAS, under PAEC, organizes the National Science Talent Contest (NSTC) every year in Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and Mathematics to find and train top talent for global science contests.

Since Pakistan’s debut at the International Physics Olympiad in 2001, over 380 students have represented the country, winning 140+ international medals. More than 4,500 students have been trained through 240+ science camps nationwide.

This gold medal win not only celebrates academic brilliance but also signals Pakistan’s growing presence in international STEM competitions.