At its main campus in Islamabad in January 2026, COMSATS University Islamabad marked 25 years of service to higher education, research, and innovation with a Silver Jubilee ceremony attended by senior government and academic leaders.
Khalid Hussain Magsi, Federal Minister for Science and Technology, participated as the chief guest and lauded the university’s evolution from a visionary idea into a nationally respected institution. The Minister praised the leadership of Prof. Dr. Raheel Qamar and noted ongoing efforts to raise academic standards, strengthen research culture, and implement administrative reforms that aim to reposition the university as a research-led centre of excellence.
The Minister paid special tribute to the faculty, calling teachers the true strength of universities and underlining their pivotal role in shaping students’ intellectual and moral foundations. He urged all stakeholders to embrace emerging research trends, artificial intelligence, and global collaboration as defining elements of the university’s next phase of progress.
Ambassador Nafees Zakaria, Executive Director of the COMSATS Secretariat and Pro-Chancellor (II), reflected on the institution’s journey from the COMSATS Institute of Information Technology to a comprehensive university of national importance, and set an ambitious target of placing COMSATS among the world’s top 200 universities by its Golden Jubilee. The Rector, Prof. Dr. Raheel Qamar, described the Silver Jubilee as a moment of shared pride and reaffirmed commitment to innovation-driven education.
The university highlighted curriculum reforms structured around a 6-C Framework—Coding, Cloud, Cybersecurity, Communication, Creativity, and Co-Intelligence—to ensure graduates are equipped with future-ready skills for the global digital economy. Emphasis on artificial intelligence and cross-border research partnerships featured prominently in addresses outlining the institution’s research agenda during the celebrations.
As part of the proceedings, shields were presented on stage to long-serving employees in recognition of dedicated service over the past 25 years, with all chief guests joining the distribution. Mr. Shahid Baloch, Federal Secretary, Ministry of Science and Technology, attended as guest of honor, and the ceremony concluded with a reaffirmation of the Ministry’s continued support for COMSATS University Islamabad’s academic and research mission as the institution moves forward from this milestone.
