Dr. Abdul Quadeer Khan
After receiving his early education in Bhopal, he left for Karachi where he obtained the Degree of Bachelor of Science in 1960 from the University of Karachi.
Subsequently he went to West Germany and studied in Berlin where he achieved high competence through attending several courses in metallurgical engineering.
He obtained the degree of Master of Science (Technology) in 1967 from Delft Technological University, Holland.
Dr. Khan received his Doctor of Engineering Degree from the University of Leuven, Belgium in 1972.
After completing his formal education Dr. Khan started his career as a Materials Expert.
He worked as an expert in several organizations in Europe, including the Uranium Enrichment Plant in Holland, which provided him state-of-the-art experience in nuclear technology.
In 1976, he joined the Engineering Research Laboratories (ERL) in Pakistan to set up an Uranium enrichment industrial plant.
As a tribute to his services rendered to the defense of
Pakistan, the then President of Pakistan, General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq,
renamed the Engineering Research Laboratories, Kahuta as Dr. A. Q. Khan
Research Laboratories (KRL) in 1981.
Over the years, the Laboratories became a focal point for a large number of scientists, engineers and technologists.
Dr. Khan guided them through the tasks that have led to
unparalleled advances in missile and uranium enrichment technologies.
This breakthrough eventually resulted in the historic explosions of six
nuclear bombs on May 28 and May 30,1998 and the successful test firing of Intermediate Range Ballistic Missiles namely “Ghauri”, on April 6, 1998 and on April 14, 1999, respectively.
The research areas of Dr. Khan are Metallurgy, Materials
Science and Nuclear Engineering. As an active scientist and
technologist, he has published 190 research papers in reputable
national and international journals and two patents in the U.K. are registered in his name. Dr. A. Q. Khan has authored a large number of books on Metallurgy.
Dr. Khan has received six honorary degrees of Doctor of
Science, respectively from the University of Karachi (July 25, 1993),
Baqai Medical University, Karachi (December 11, 1998), Hamdard
University, Karachi (March 6, 1999), Gomal University, Dera Ismail
Khan, N.W.F.P. (April 16,1999), University of Engineering &
Technology, Lahore (December 9, 2000) and Sir Syed University, Karachi
(March 25, 2001). For his important and eminent contributions in the
field of science and technology, the President, Islamic Republic of
Pakistan conferred upon Dr. Khan the award of Nishan-i-Imtiaz on 14 August, 1996 and 14 August, 1998.
He is also a recipient of Hilal-i-Imtiaz. Dr. Khan is the only
Pakistani to have received the highest civil award of “Nishan-i-Imtiaz”
twice.
He has been awarded 63 gold medals and 3 gold crowns by
various national institutions and organizations. He is a Fellow of
Kazakh National Academy of Sciences, the first Asian scientist with
this honour. He is also a Fellow of the Islamic Academy of Sciences.
Being a Fellow of Pakistan Academy of Sciences, he was elected
President of the Academy an impressive 3rd time in January 2001. He is
also a member of a large number of national and international
professional organizations, which include Pakistan Institute of
Metallurgical Engineers; Pakistan Institute of Engineers; Institute of
Central and West Asian Studies; the Institute of Materials, London;
American Society of Metal (ASM); The Metallurgical Society of the
American Institute of Metallurgical, Mining and Petroleum Engineers
(TMS); Canadian Institute of Metals (CIM) and Japan Institute of Metals
(JIM).
He is an ardent supporter of higher education. As the
Project Director of GIK Institute of Science and Technology, he has
invested his energies in developing the Institute into an exemplary
high technology institution. He sits on the Boards of Governors and
Syndicates of more than two dozen universities and institutes. He has
contributed immensely to the establishment of educational institutes in
Pakistan. These include several colleges,
schools, institutions and academies. So wide are his community services
that his contributions extend to the construction of mosques, tombs,
dispensaries and community health centres to alleviate the plight of
poor communities.
Hilal-i-Imtiaz by the Government of Pakistan on 14-8-1989 and decorated by the President of Pakistan Mr. Ghulam Ishaq Khan on 23-3-1990
Nishan-i-Imtiaz by the Government of Pakistan on 14-8-1996 and decorated by the President of Pakistan Mr. Farooq Ahmed Khan Leghari on 25-3-1997
Nishan-i-Imtiaz by the Government of Pakistan on 14-8-1998
for the second time, thus making Dr. Khan the only Pakistani to have
been decorated with the highest civil award twice. The Award was
decorated by the President of Pakistan Mr. M. Rafiq Tarar on 23-3-1999
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