Pakistan earned a silver medal and a Merit Certificate at the 37th International Biology Olympiad (IBO) 2026, held in Vilnius, Lithuania, from July 12 to 19, according to a statement issued by the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (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).
Hassan Atif Cheema of Lahore won the silver medal, while Muhammad Mutahir of Karachi received a Merit Certificate.
The competition brought together more than 350 outstanding high school students from over 90 countries, making it one of the world’s most prestigious international biology contests.
The Pakistani students qualified through the 22nd National Science Talent Contest (NSTC) conducted under the STEM Careers Programme.
Following a rigorous selection process, the team underwent intensive residential training at the National Institute of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering (NIBGE), a constituent college of PIEAS operating under the auspices of PAEC.
According to the statement, the training programme was delivered by leading local and international experts to prepare the students for the global competition.