Pakistan Wins Silver Medal at International Biology Olympiad 2026 in Lithuania

Pakistan has succeeded in bagging a Silver Medal and a Merit Certificate in the 37th International Biology Olympiad, held in Vilnius, Lithuania, between July 12 and 19, 2026, which marks yet another addition to Pakistan’s distinguished performance in various science contests held across the globe since over two decades. The winner of the Silver Medal in the Pakistan International Biology Olympiad is Hassan Atif Cheema, studying in International School Lahore’s Legacy Campus, whereas Muhammad Mutahir, from Karachi Grammar School, has received a Merit Certificate in the same contest.

This accomplishment came about through the STEM Careers Programme – a collaborative project of the Higher Education Commission and the Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences – proving that a well-thought-out investment in developing science talent yields success on the international stage.

How the Team of Pakistan Was Selected and Trained

The silver medal for the Pakistan International Biology Olympiad was no chance event. The processes of selection and training involved in this success story consist of a very strict institutional process:

Selection: Through the 22nd National Science Talent Contest held through the STEM Careers Programme

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  Training: Extensive training sessions organized in the National Institute of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering (NIBGE), which is a constituent college of PIEAS under the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission

• Trainers: Renowned national and international trainers engaged specially for Olympiad training

• Leadership: Prof. Dr. Asma Imran and Dr. Aamir Ali of NIBGE College (PIEAS) were the leaders of the national team

This model of residential training has yielded good results in all the Olympiads conducted in Pakistan by bringing together a selected few pupils to receive intensive scientific training under the guidance of experts.

Pakistan’s International Olympiad Record — 144 Medals

In addition to this, Pakistan also holds an extremely commendable international achievements record for Pakistan in terms of medals gained at the International Olympiads. Since 2001, Pakistan has taken part in the International Physics Olympiad, the International Mathematics Olympiad from 2005 onwards and the International Biology and Chemistry Olympiads since 2006 — all over the course of two decades, and all yielding 144 medals for Pakistan.

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Two Students, Two Schools – A Tale of Geographic and Educational Diversity

Silver medal at Pakistan International Biology Olympiad is a feat that speaks volumes about the geographic origins of the finest scientific minds in the country. Two students – Hassan Atif Cheema of International School Lahore and Muhammad Mutahir of Karachi Grammar School – coming from two separate cities and two separate schools and competing at an international level alongside students from more than 90 countries.

The above mentioned diversity in terms of geography and institutions among the best performing scientists in Pakistan indicates that the talent pool in not concentrated at a single place but is actually spread throughout the country – which is certainly good news for the STEM Careers Programme.

PAEC and PIEAS – The Institutional Backbones

Through such institutions as PIEAS and NIBGE, the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission still acts as the chief institutional backbone of the international science Olympiads program in Pakistan. This is due to the fact that there is an awareness that the grooming of future Pakistani scientists and researchers will contribute to the socioeconomic development of Pakistan.

The Pakistan International Biology Olympiad silver medal is a milestone in the career of Hassan Atif Cheema. In terms of the country as a whole, it demonstrates once again that with talent identification, focused training, and dedication, Pakistani students can be amongst the best in the world.