ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives, Professor Ahsan Iqbal, chaired a high-level meeting to assess progress on the Quantum Valley Pakistan project—a major national initiative aimed at advancing high-tech innovation.
The session brought together senior officials from the Ministries of Planning, Information Technology, and Science and Technology, along with representatives from Ignite and Dr. Najeeb Ullah, Member Science and Technology, who presented the strategic framework for the initiative.
Describing Quantum Valley Pakistan as the most transformative techno-national undertaking in the country’s history, Ahsan Iqbal underscored its goal of integrating civil-military research and development to accelerate innovation across Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) 3 to 6. The initiative aims to drive industrialization and boost national self-reliance in advanced technology sectors.
Planned to host cutting-edge science parks, Quantum Valley will focus on emerging disciplines such as agri-tech, biotechnology, materials science, and minerals, creating a collaborative ecosystem linking academia, industry, and government.
The initiative’s strategic design was developed in partnership with the St John’s Innovation Centre at the University of Cambridge—an internationally recognized leader in technology incubation. The collaboration was established during Minister Iqbal’s recent visit to the UK as part of broader efforts to strengthen UK–Pakistan ties in science and industrial innovation.
“This is a landmark achievement under the STED (Science, Technology, and Engineering for Development) program,” the minister said, noting that earlier efforts like Vision 2010, the 10,000 PhD scholarships program, and the establishment of national tech centres have paved the way for Pakistan’s current innovation ecosystem.
Ahsan Iqbal directed all relevant stakeholders, including the Ministry of Defence, to work in coordination to ensure successful implementation of Quantum Valley Pakistan, calling it a pivotal step toward transforming Pakistan into a globally competitive, knowledge-based economy.
