50 years of excellence in computing & emerging sciences
The Foundation for Advancement of Science & Technology (FAST-NU), National University of Computing & Emerging Sciences, on Monday celebrated its Golden Jubilee, completing 50 successful years of sustained contributions to Pakistan’s technological education, innovation, and human-capital development.
The milestone was marked by a commemorative ceremony attended by the university’s leadership, faculty members, alumni, students, founders and prominent figures from the technology and policy sectors. One of the founders late Justice (R) Akhlaque Hussain was represented by his daughter and senior anchorperson, Nasim Zehra. Addressing the ceremony, Mr. Nisar A. Memon, former Federal Minister and one of the longest-serving members of FAST’s Board of Governors (BoG), reflected on the institution’s journey from a pioneering computing institute to a nationally respected, multi-campus private university at the forefront of emerging sciences. He said FAST’s evolution mirrored the rapid transformation of technology itself and highlighted the institution’s ability to adapt to change while maintaining academic rigor and relevance.
In his address, Nisar A Memon said that FAST’s Golden Jubilee was not merely a celebration of longevity, but a reaffirmation of its founding mission. “For fifty years, FAST has remained committed to academic excellence, merit, and innovation. Our goal has always been to prepare graduates who can compete globally while serving the national interest,” he said.
Mr. Memon recalled that his association with FAST began more than twenty-five years ago during his tenure as Chief Executive Officer of IBM Pakistan, when FAST graduates were being actively recruited by leading technology firms. This, he said, demonstrated the university’s long-standing relevance to industry needs and its role in producing highly skilled professionals for national and international markets. Reflecting on the approval of FAST’s charter during his time in the Federal Cabinet, Mr. Memon said the founding vision was to establish an agile, high-quality private university capable of serving Pakistan across regions and generations, while remaining responsive to rapid technological change. That vision, he noted, had been realized through sustained investment in faculty, infrastructure, and research. Today, FAST University operates six campuses across three provinces, serves multiple regions within a province, and maintains a campus in Islamabad, the federal capital. From its early focus on computer engineering, the university has expanded into diverse engineering disciplines, business administration, and advanced research programmes, he said.
Mr. Memon added that semiconductor chips are now being designed at the university, placing FAST within the global innovation ecosystem.
