Islamabad: International Islamic University Islamabad (IIUI) has hosted a National Semiconductor Roundtable Conference, a move initiated under the vision of the university's President, Prof. Dr. Ahmed Saad Alahmed, highlighting IIUI's commitment to advancing Pakistan's technological landscape through academia, policy, and industry collaboration.
According to International Islamic University Islamabad, the event began with a recitation of the Holy Quran, followed by an address from President Prof. Dr. Ahmed Saad Alahmed. He emphasized the strategic importance of the semiconductor industry for Pakistan's economic resilience and digital future, noting IIUI's critical role in bridging academia, industry, and policy. The President also mentioned that Pakistan's semiconductor goals are aligned with Saudi Arabia's initiatives, presenting opportunities for regional collaboration and knowledge exchange.
Prof. Dr. Ahmed Shuja Syed, Vice President of Research and Enterprise at IIUI, stressed the need for policy continuity and institutional coherence to develop sustainable semiconductor ecosystems. The conference also saw Ms. Shaza Fatima Khawaja, Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication, as the Chief Guest. She recognized the significance of the dialogue and emphasized the role of universities in shaping national direction.
The roundtable included three technical panels, each focusing on different aspects of the semiconductor ecosystem: policy and governance, industry and job creation, and academia's role in research and innovation. The panels featured experts from various sectors, discussing pathways for industrial scaling, employment generation, and academic contributions to talent pipelines.
International contributions included insights from Dr. Naveed Sherwani from Saudi Arabia's National Semiconductor Hub and Dr. Farhat Jahangir, CEO of GS Microelectronics, highlighting global integration and manufacturing pathways.
The roundtable underscored IIUI's leadership under President Prof. Dr. Ahmed Saad Alahmed in shaping a coherent semiconductor ecosystem for Pakistan, with recognition given to the Business Incubation Center and the Protocol and Public Relations Team for their efforts in organizing the event.