Ishfaq Ahmad Khan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ishfaq Ahmad Khan
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Ishfaq Ahmad (1930–2018) c. 1990s
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| Born | 3 November 1930 |
| Died | 18 January 2018 (aged 87) Islamabad, Pakistan
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| Nationality | Indian (1930–1947) Pakistani (1947–2018) |
| Alma mater | Université de Montréal University of Punjab |
| Known for | Nuclear Deterrence Contribution to Pion and particle physics Stellar nucleosynthesis |
| Awards | Nishan-i-Imitiaz (1998) Hilal-i-Imtiaz (1995) Sitara-i-Imtiaz (1989) |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Nuclear Physics |
| Institutions | Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission Institute of Nuclear Science and Technology International Atomic Energy Agency Government College University National Centre for Physics Planning Commission |
| Thesis | Structure et identification des trajectoires dans les emulsions ionographiques à grain fin (1959) |
| Doctoral advisor | Pierre Demers |
| Other academic advisors | R.M. Chaudhry |
| Notable students | Samar Mubarakmand |
Ishfaq Ahmad Khan (born November 3, 1930 – died January 18, 2018) was a very important Pakistani nuclear physicist. He was also a professor of high-energy physics and a science advisor to the Government of Pakistan.
Dr. Ahmad was a brilliant theoretical physicist. He made big discoveries in how tiny particles work, especially in quantum electrodynamics. He did this while working at CERN in Europe during the 1960s and 1970s.
He joined the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) in the late 1950s. There, he led the Nuclear Physics Division at the Pinstech Institute. This institute worked on developing Pakistan's nuclear energy and defense capabilities. He was key in doing the math and physics for these projects.
Dr. Ahmad also worked with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). This agency promotes the peaceful use of nuclear power around the world. He chaired the PAEC from 1991 to 2001. He also advised Pakistan's prime minister on important scientific programs. He was a strong supporter of using nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. In 1998, he led the PAEC to conduct Pakistan's first public nuclear tests in Balochistan. He passed away on January 18, 2018, at the age of 87.
Contents
About Ishfaq Ahmad
His Early Life and Education
Ishfaq Ahmad was born in Gurdaspur, British India, on November 3, 1930. His family had lived in Punjab for a long time. He went to school in Jalandhar, Lyallpur, and Lahore. He then studied Physics at the University of the Punjab in Lahore. He earned his first degree in Physics in 1949.
He continued his studies at Punjab University and got his master's degree in 1951. His master's thesis was about nuclear physics. He earned top honors and a gold medal for his excellent work. He also taught physics at the Government College University.
In 1954, he won a special scholarship called the Colombo Plan. This allowed him to go to Quebec, Canada, for his advanced studies. He studied Particle physics at the Université de Montréal. In 1959, he earned his doctorate degree in physics. His research focused on studying tiny particles using special photographic materials. After finishing his studies, he returned to Pakistan and joined the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC).
Working in Academia and at CERN
In 1952, Dr. Ahmad was a visiting professor of math at Government College University. Later, in 1959, he became a physics professor at the University of Paris. He also spent a year researching theoretical physics at the Niels Bohr Institute for Theoretical Physics in Denmark.
From 1962 to 1964, he taught physics at the University of Montreal and the University of Ottawa. In Ottawa, he did important research on how particles behave and published many scientific papers. He also conducted nuclear physics experiments in France.
In the 1990s, Dr. Ahmad worked hard to build stronger ties with CERN. CERN is the European Organization for Nuclear Research, home to the world's largest particle physics laboratory. In 1997, as the head of PAEC, he signed an agreement with CERN. This agreement helped improve a large particle detector called the CMS. Pakistan also contributed financially to this project.
In 1998, he signed another agreement with CERN. This allowed Pakistani scientists, especially those from PAEC, to work on the CMS project. In 2000, another agreement was signed for building parts of the CMS detector. Dr. Ahmad hoped these collaborations would lead to Pakistan becoming a closer partner with CERN.
His Work at the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission
In 1960, Dr. Ahmad joined the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC). He was able to travel and work at famous research centers around the world. He published papers at the Niels Bohr Institute in Denmark, the University of Montreal in Canada, and the University of Paris in France.
In 1965, he settled at the PAEC center in Lahore. He held various important positions within PAEC. From 1969 to 1971, he was the director of the Atomic Energy Centre in Lahore. He then became the director of the Pakistan Institute of Nuclear Science and Technology (PINSTECH) from 1971 to 1976. He rose to become the Chairman of PAEC in 1991 and served in that role until 2001.
While he was Chairman of PAEC, Dr. Ahmad also led Pakistan's team at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna, Austria. He worked to ensure that developing countries received technical support from the IAEA. He helped create a special group called SAGTAC to focus on the needs of these countries. He was the first chairman of this group.
Pakistan's Nuclear Program
After the 1971 war, Dr. Ishfaq Ahmad was sent to PINSTECH. When Munir Ahmad Khan became the head of PAEC and was put in charge of a secret project, he appointed Dr. Ahmad as the director of PINSTECH. Dr. Ahmad led the Nuclear Physics Division at PINSTECH. This division worked on the early designs for Pakistan's nuclear capabilities. He played a key role in the physics and math calculations needed for these projects. He also did early theoretical work on how these devices would work.
As early as 1976, Dr. Ahmad and his team explored areas in Balochistan to find suitable sites for testing. They found a strong granite mountain in the Ras Koh region. Dr. Ahmad made sure the underground testing labs would be very dry and strong enough to handle the forces from inside. After confirming the site, his team completed a detailed survey of the area.
At PINSTECH, Dr. Ahmad also developed special ways to detect and identify nuclear materials. He also helped create devices to measure radiation.
By 1983, a first device was built. On March 11, 1983, a "cold test" of this device was secretly done at Sargodha air force base. This was a scientific test to check if the device worked as expected. Dr. Ahmad led the team of scientists who oversaw this test.
The Chagai Tests
In 1991, Dr. Ahmad became the official Chairman of PAEC. He also served as a science advisor to the government. In May 1998, while he was in Canada, he heard about India's nuclear tests. He quickly returned to Pakistan to meet with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.
On May 17, 1998, Dr. Ahmad met with the Prime Minister. He received approval from the government to conduct Pakistan's own tests. This was to respond to India's actions and ensure Pakistan's defense.
Dr. Ahmad personally oversaw the preparations for the tests. On May 28, 1998, PAEC, along with other groups, carried out the first nuclear tests, code-named Chagai-I. Two days later, on May 30, Chagai-II was performed. These tests showed Pakistan's ability to defend itself.
Later Work and Contributions
Earthquake Studies and Climate Change
After retiring from PAEC in 2001, Dr. Ahmad became very interested in seismology (the study of earthquakes) and climate change. He helped create two important centers: the Global Change Impact Studies Centre and the Centre for Earthquake Studies (CES). Both of these centers are linked to the National Centre for Physics (NCP) in Islamabad.
Dr. Ahmad was also elected President of the Pakistan Academy of Sciences. He was also the lifetime Chairman of the Board of Governors of the National Centre for Physics (NCP). This research institute is like the International Centre for Theoretical Physics in Italy.
He also helped Pakistan join the governing Council of the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) in Austria. This institute does research using mathematical models.
Global Change Impact Studies Centre (GCISC)
Thanks to Dr. Ishfaq Ahmad's efforts, the Global Change Impact Studies Centre (GCISC) was created in Islamabad. For the first time, this center began researching policy issues related to climate change in Pakistan. It works with other national groups like the Pakistan Meteorological Department. The center also works with international institutions, such as The Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics. GCISC also acts as the main office for the prime minister's Committee on Climate Change.
Centre for Earthquake Studies (CES)
After the big Kashmir earthquake in October 2005, the government decided to set up a Centre for Earthquake Studies (CES) in Islamabad. Dr. Ishfaq Ahmad provided the technical guidance for this center.
The center works with leading scientists from around the world. It conducts research using a special Gravitational Wave Recorder located at the National Centre for Physics.
Supporting Nuclear Power
Ishfaq Ahmad was well-known internationally for strongly supporting nuclear power plants. He believed they were important for a country's industrial and economic growth. At international meetings, he spoke about Pakistan's achievements in nuclear energy. He stressed Pakistan's need for nuclear power to help its economy grow. In 2012, he helped a group called HMC-3 become the first commercial nuclear power company in Pakistan. He also helped them get a license to make nuclear materials for power plants.
Awards and Recognition
Dr. Ishfaq Ahmad received many high honors for his service to Pakistan.
- Sitara-i-Imtiaz (1989)
- Hilal-i-Imtiaz (1995)
- Nishan-i-Imitiaz (1998) – This is the highest honor given to a Pakistani citizen.
- Gold Medal, Pakistan Academy of Sciences (1998)
- Gold Medal, Institute of Leadership & Management (ILM) (1998)
- Gold Medal, Society of Engineering, Materials and Metallurgical Engineering (SEMME), Karachi, (1998)
- Gold Medal, Geological Society of Punjab, (1998)
- Doctorate of Science Honoris Causa, UET Lahore, 2000.
- Listed in "Who's who in atom," American Institute of Physics (1969)
Fellowships and Memberships
Dr. Ishfaq Ahmad was also a member of many important scientific groups:
- Elected President of the Pakistan Academy of Sciences (2007)
- Board of Directors of the Abdus Salam Centre for Solid State Physics, Government College University, Lahore, 2006–present.
- Board of Governors of the Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute of Engineering Sciences and Technology (GIKI) (2002)
- Chairman and Board of Governors, Riazuddin National Centre for Physics, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad (2001)
- Fellow of the Islamic World Academy of Sciences (2000)
- Fellow of the Nuclear Society of Pakistan (1997)
- Elected fellow of the Pakistan Nuclear Society (1993)
- Honorary Fellow of the International Nuclear Energy Academy (INEA)
- Honorary Member of World Innovation Foundation (WIF), UK (2006)
- Board of Governors of the Government College University, Lahore (1989–1996)
- Fellow of the Pakistan Academy of Sciences (1983)
- Fellow at Niels Bohr Institute of Theoretical Physics, Copenhagen, Denmark (1961–1962)
- Member of the Board of Sponsors of The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists.
- Member of the Board of Physics Olympiad of Pakistan.
- An honorary Council Member of International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA).
See also
- Munir Ahmad Khan
- Abdus Salam
- European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN)
- International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
- Montreal Laboratory
- Nimra Ahmed Khan
