KARACHI: Vice Chancellor of Sir Syed University of Engineering & Technology, Prof. Dr. Muhammad Afzal Haque, has received the prestigious IETI “Global Leadership Award” – a landmark moment for Pakistani academia on the world stage.
He was honored among just four global recipients selected for exceptional contributions to engineering education, research, and international collaboration: Michael E. Auer (Germany/Austria), Kostas Gouliamos (Greece/Cyprus), and Daniel Lai (Hong Kong, China) and Prof. Dr. Afzal Haque (Pakistan), the sole honoree from Pakistan.
Founded in 2015, the International Engineering and Technology Institute (IETI) is a non-profit, non-political academic organization dedicated to advancing research and collaboration in science, engineering, and technology, with formal recognition from the UN’s civil society database since 2022 and status as a UNESCO Jena Declaration signatory since 2024.
Its global network includes more than 5,000 members and honors distinguished experts, including Nobel Prize, Turing Award, and Fields Medal laureates.
The Global Leadership Award celebrates individuals who’ve shown outstanding leadership across academia, science, technology, and international cooperation.
In his acceptance remarks, Prof. Dr. Haque called the honor a collective achievement for the Pakistan Academy of Engineering, Sir Syed University, and the nation.
“Being the first Pakistani to receive this award is deeply humbling,” he said, crediting the encouragement of his colleagues and expressing hope it would open new doors for global collaboration.
On behalf of IETI’s Governing Body, Prof. Gabriel XG Yue extended heartfelt congratulations and praised Prof. Haque’s contributions to engineering education and international collaboration.
Prof. Brig. Dr. Nasim Akhtar Khan (President, Pakistan Academy of Engineering) and Prof. Dr. Shashi Kant Gupta also congratulated him on elevating IETI’s global standing.
Earlier, Prof. Dr. Afzal Haque was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Governor of Sindh, Syed Nehal Hashmi, as announced by the Medical & Engineering Graduates Welfare Association of Sindh (MEGWAS).
Additionally, he has also received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Institution of Engineers Pakistan (IEP).
A PhD in mechanical engineering from the University of Manchester, Prof. Haque has served as vice chancellor at several leading Pakistani universities, including NEDUET,and spearheaded the China-Pakistan International Institute of Artificial Intelligence, strengthening Pakistan-China cooperation in AI.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
Comments