Ishfaq Ahmad Khan

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
(Redirected from
Ishfaq Ahmad
)

Ishfaq Ahmad Khan
Nishan-i-Imitiaz (1998)
  • Hilal-i-Imtiaz (1995)
  • Sitara-i-Imtiaz (1989)
  • Scientific career
    FieldsNuclear physics
    Institutions
    ThesisStructure et identification des trajectoires dans les emulsions ionographiques à grain fin (1959)
    Doctoral advisorPierre Demers
    Other academic advisorsR.M. Chaudhry
    Notable studentsSamar Mubarakmand

    Ishfaq Ahmad Khan (3 November 1930 – 18 January 2018)

    high-energy physics at the National Centre for Physics, and former science advisor to the Government of Pakistan.[1]

    A versatile

    post-1971 war.[3] There, he played an influential role in leading the physics and mathematical calculations in the critical mass of the weapons, and did theoretical work on the implosion method used in the weapons.[4]

    Since the 1960s and onwards, he was a high-ranking official at the

    Balochistan Province of Pakistan.[5] He died on 18 January 2018, aged 87 in Lahore.[6][7]

    Biography

    Early life and education

    Ahmad was born in

    Punjab University in Lahore to study Physics, and earned his undergraduate, BSc degree, in Physics in 1949.[9]

    After entering in the post graduate school at the Punjab University, Ahmad obtained his MSc degree, in 1951, after submitting his master's thesis on nuclear physics, which was supervised by R. M. Chaudhry.[11] With his master's degree, he obtained Honours diploma and secured a gold medallion for the recognition of his work in physics.[9] He taught various undergraduate physics laboratory courses at the Government College University while working on fundamental concepts in nuclear physics with his university mentor. In 1954, he won the scholarship under the Colombo Plan fellowship program and went to Quebec, Canada for his doctorate studies.[12]

    Ahmad attended the doctorate school at the Université de Montréal and did a two-year-long course in Particle physics and engaged his research on theoretical physics. In 1959, Ahmad obtained D.Sc. in physics after submitting his doctoral works on concepts on advancing on particle physics.[12] His theses were written in fluent French and English language, and he reluctantly returned to Pakistan under the terms of Colombo Plan contract. His DSc theses were supervised by Pierre Demers[13] and covered a wide range of research in the study of elementary particles by using the deployment of special fine grain nuclear emulsion (AgBr).[13] During his long doctoral studies, Ahmad studied nuclear reaction at the Montreal Laboratory with supervisors and scientists role in the Manhattan Project. Upon his return to Pakistan, he joined the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) as a senior scientist.[12]

    Academia and CERN

    In 1952, Ahmad served as a

    University of Montreal and the University of Ottawa. In Ottawa, he carried out pioneering research in particle resonance and published important publications in theoretical physics.[16]

    Ahmad also performed experiments on nuclear physics at the Meuse Underground Laboratories of France.[17] In 1965, Ahmad published a research report on absorption of Pion's cross sections and the range of complex atom's energy of the pion particle.[18] He recalled his Cern experience in 1994:

    In 1994, I visited

    DESY. It brought back good memories of my earlier visits, which date back to 1962 when I came to CERN as a young post-doctoral fellow working at the University Institute of Theoretical Physics in Copenhagen (now the Niels Bohr Institute) to perform a nuclear emulsion experiment. During my visit in 1994, I was fascinated to see the exciting developments in physics that were taking place at CERN, and I had only one wish— that my own country, Pakistan— should somehow become involved in scientific collaboration with CERN, and that our physicists and engineers could also become part of the most advanced, challenging and rewarding scientific endeavour: the Large Hadron Collider (LHC).

    — Ishfaq Ahmad, 1994, source[19]

    In the 1990s, Ahmad played a pivotal role in building closer relations with the CERN, and lobbied tirelessly for PAEC to reach an agreement with CERN.[19][20] In 1997, Ahmad, as chair of PAEC, signed an agreement with CERN in the up gradation of the CMS detector and the financial contribution worth one million SFr for the construction of eight magnetic rings for the detector.[19] This was followed by in 1998, Ishfaq Ahmad, as PAEC chairman, reached another contract with CERN.[19] The signing of the agreement was followed by the state visit of CERN's director Christopher Llewellyn Smith with whom Ahmad signed a collaborative agreement that provided an entry point for Pakistani's scientist (respectively PAEC) into the CMS collaboration.[19]

    In 2000, another treaty between PAEC and CERN was signed that covered the construction of the resistive plate chambers required for the CMS muon system. In Press Conference with Luciano Maiani, Ahmad quoted: "I very much hope and wish that these developments may eventually lead to Pakistan becoming an associate member of CERN."[21]

    Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission

    In 1960, Ahmad joined the

    Institute of Nuclear Science and Technology in Nilore until 1976.[22] In 1976, he became a Science Member of PAEC, raised to the position of Senior Member in 1988. He became Chairman of the Commission in 1991 and remained its Chairman from 13 March 1991 to 19 December 2001.[22]

    While he was Chairman PAEC, Ahmad has been heading the country's delegation at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna, Austria.[23] At IAEA, he was always very keen for getting technical support and the breaking of the isololation of scientists from third world. On his persuasion IAEA's technical assistance program was adapted to cater for special needs of the developing countries.[23] In this regard a Standing Advisory Group on Technical Assistance and Cooperation (SAGTAC) was established; Ahmad served as the first Chairman of the Group.[23]

    1971 war and atomic bomb project

    After the

    post-1971 war.[3] There, he played an influential role in leading the physics and mathematical calculations in the critical mass of the weapons, and did preliminary theoretical work on the implosion method used in the weapons.[4]

    As early as in 1976, Ahmad, in a seismic team led by geophysicist Ahsan Mubarak conducted a

    nuclear test.[24] Once this was confirmed, Ishfaq Ahmed finalised the work on a three-dimensional survey of the area.[24]

    In 1976, PAEC succeeded in producing the first local 10

    weapon grade plutonium in 1983, which was later tested with the nuclear device.[26][27]

    At PINSTECH, Ahmad produced the first

    Thermoluminescent Dosimeter to measure the detection of alpha particles emitted in the decay of radon and thoron gases. Ahmad collaborating with Hameed Ahmad Khan —director of Radiation Physics Division – in the development of CR-39, a type of particle detector.[29] Ahmad gained expertise in nuclear emulsion and developed a first classified nuclear emulsion that provided information about the mass, charge and velocity of the particles producing the track.[30]

    A first

    civil bureaucracy and the active-duty officer of the Pakistan military
    .

    Chagai tests

    In 1991, Ahmad was officially approved as the chairman of PAEC by the

    Joint Headquarters at Rawalpindi, informing him to remain on stand-by a meeting with the Prime Minister.[citation needed
    ] After commencing the meeting with the Prime minister, Ahmad received green signal from the government of Pakistan to conduct country's first test as a suitable reply to Indian nuclear aggression.

    Ahmad personally supervised the test preparations as he also suggests the codenames of the tests. On 28 May 1998, the PAEC, sided by

    kt of nuclear force, according to the PAEC scientific data.[33]

    Later work and activism

    Earthquake studies and climate change

    After retiring from the PAEC in 2001, Ahmad developed interests in seismology and the climate change, and helped founded the Global Change Impact Studies Centre and the Centre for Earthquake Studies (CES), both initially attached to the National Centre for Physics (NCP) in Islamabad. Ahmad served as elected President of the Pakistan Academy of Sciences and is the lifetime Chairman of the Board of Governors of the National Centre for Physics (NCP)— a research institute established on the pattern of International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP) at Trieste, Italy.[citation needed]

    He also put Pakistan on the governing Council of the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), Austria, which conducts policy related research using mathematical modeling and simulation tools.[34]

    Global Change Impact Studies Centre (GCISC)

    Ishfaq Ahmad's efforts led to the creation of the Global Change Impact Studies Centre (GCISC) in Islamabad where, for the first time, research on policy issues related to climate change is being undertaken in Pakistan. The centre, an autonomous organisation under the federal govt, works in collaboration with national institutions such as Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), National Agricultural Research Centre (NARC), WAPDA and PCRWR etc. The centre has also established collaborative relationship with international institutions, most importantly The Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP), Trieste, Italy. GCISC, with Arshad M Khan as its executive director, also serves as the secretariat of the prime minister's Committee on Climate Change.[35]

    Centre for Earthquake Studies (CES)

    After 8 October 2005,

    Kashmir earthquake
    , the Government has decided to establish a Centre for Earthquake studies in Islamabad, under the technical direction of Ishfaq Ahmad. The centre under the directorship of Mr. Shahid Ashraf and Ahsan Mubarak started work in collaboration with world leading scientists such as Elchin Khalilov of Azerbaijan. The centre conducts research using a Gravitational Wave Recorder housed at the National Centre for Physics, Islamabad.

    Advocacy for Nuclear power

    Ishfaq Ahmad is internationally known for his long-standing public advocacy for the nuclear power plants for the industrial and socio-economic growth.[36][37] On international forums, Ahmad deterred the international pressure mounted on Pakistan after conducting its tests, instead highlighted the achievements gained by Pakistan on its nuclear power infrastructure in the country as well as the need of Pakistan's usage of nuclear power for its economical growth.[38] In 2012, Ahmad lobbied for the HMC-3 consortium to be listed as first commercial nuclear power corporation and helped the consortium to acquire its first license to manufacture nuclear materials for industrial power plants.[39]

    State honours, awards and recognition

    In 1989, Ishfaq Ahmad was bestowed with first state honour,

    Institute of Leadership and Management
    in Lahore.

    Fellowships

    Publications

    Thesis

    D.Sc. Thesis (UQAM): Structure and Identification of trajectories in fine grain ionographic emulsions, under the direction of Pierre Demers, Faculty of Science, University of Montreal, Canada, 1958.

    Research papers

    • Trajectories structure in fine-grained emulsions, Ann. ACFAS, 23, 111–112, 1957. (http://er.uqam.ca/nobel/c3410/PierreDemersBibl1950-9.html)
    • Structure des trajectoires dans les émulsions à grain fin, avec Ishfaq Ahmad, 1er Colloque International de Photographie Corpusculaire. Strasbourg, 1957
    • Identification of particles in the fine grain emulsions with Ishfaq Ahmad and Jean-Louis Meunier, 1er Colloque International de Photographie Corpusculaire. Strasbourg, 1957
    • Photometric analysis of the trajectories in ionographic detectors, 25th ACFAS, Univ. Laval, Quebec, Nov.3,1957.Ann.ACFAS,24, 119, 1958.
    • An optical model of the granular structure of trajectories, 2nd Symposium photography corpuscular Montreal 1958. ACFAS, 26th Congress, University of Ottawa, 31 Oct.- 2 Nov. 1958.

    6. L'INFLUENCE DU DÉVELOPPEMENT SUR LA STRUCTURE DES TRAJECTOIRES ET SUR LE VOILE DANS LES ÉMULSIONS À GRAINS FINS, Canadian Journal of Physics, 1959, 37(12). pp. 1548–1552. (http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/p59-171)

    • The ionographic detector considered a pulse source, PC II, PUM, 314- 316, 1959.
    • Influence du diamètre moyen des grains vierges dans une émulsion

    nucléaire sur la structure des lacunes. Ahmad Ishfaq and Max Morand. Comptes rendus hebdomadaires des séances de l'Académie des sciences, France, 1959, Vol. 1–3 (T248, part 1), pp. 1798–1800 (http://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k32002/f1836.image).

    • Influence of the gelatin on the granular size distribution of silver bromide during the production of ionographic emulsions, PC III, PUM, 128–134, 1964. (http://er.uqam.ca/nobel/c3410/PierreDemersBibl1960-9.html)
    • Ionographic emulsion made with a mixture of polyvinyl alcohol and albumin, ACFAS, 32nd Congress, Univ. Ottawa, Ontario, 6–8 Nov. 1964.

    1964, Ann. ACFAS, 31, 76–7, 1965.

    • Ionographic emulsions loaded with diamond powder, ACFAS, 32nd Congress, Univ. Ottawa, Ontario, 6 to 8 November,
    • (3,3) Resonance in the Nucleus – Progress of Theoretical Physics, Journal of the Physical Society of Japan. Vol 35 (3), 1966 (http://ptp.oxfordjournals.org/content/35/3/566.full.pdf).

    13. The role of pre-irradiation annealing in changing the track development characteristics of glass track detectors. Nuclear Instruments and Methods, Vol.131(1), 1975, pp. 89–92.

    • 'Seasoning' of latent damage trails in lunar samples, Nature 254, 1975, pp 126–127.
    • Anisotropy in the track development properties of various crystallographic planes of natural quartz crystals, Radiation Effects, Vol. 30(3), 1976, pp 159–165.
    • The use of Alpha Sensitive Plastic Films (ASPF) for uranium/thorium exploration and prospecting. Radiation Physics and Chemistry, Vol. 11(6), 1978, pp 295–297.
    • The measurement of radon and thoron by solid state nuclear track detectors, Radiation Effects, Vol. 35 (1–2), 1978, pp 35–43.
    • Track structure and identification of particles in nuclear emulsions. Nuclear Instruments and Methods, Vol. 173(1), 1980, pp 15–20.
    • Some important considerations in the use of solid state nuclear track detectors for radon gas concentration measurements. Nuclear Instruments and Methods, Volume 173 (1), 1980, pp 183–189.
    • Field experience about the use of alpha sensitive plastic films for uranium exploration. Nuclear Instruments and Methods, Volume 173(1), 1980, Pages 191–196
    • CERN and Pakistan: a personal perspective, 2003 (http://cerncourier.com/cws/article/cern/28934).
    • Managing nuclear knowledge in a developing country: Pakistan's perspective. Int. J. Nuclear Knowledge Management. Vol 1(1–2), 2004, pp 90–97.
    • MANAGING NUCLEAR KNOWLEDGE: ROLE OF IAEA AND ITS TECHNICAL COOPERATION PROGRAMME, International Conference on Nuclear Knowledge Management Strategies, Information Management and Human Resource Development, 7–10 September 2004, Sacley, France. (http://www.iaea.org/km/cnkm/presentations/ahmadpakistan.pdf)
    • DEVELOPING COUNTRIES AND THE CHALLENGE OF CLIMATE CHANGE, International Conference on Environment: Survival and Sustainability.

    19–24 February 2007, Cyprus (https://www.springer.com/environment/sustainable+development/book/978-3-540-95990-8).

    Books

    • Ahmad, Ishfaq D.Sc. (2002). Water and New Technologies (in English and French). Islamabad, Islamabad Capital Territory: Global Change Impact Studies Centre. p. 168. .

    See also

    References

    1. ^ "Dr. Ishfaq Ahmad (N.I, H.I, S.I) Advisor S&T / Minister of State". Government of Pakistan. Archived from the original on 25 October 2012. Retrieved 14 August 2012.
    2. ^ Shabbir, Usman. "Munir Ahmad Khan and PAEC's other achievements". The Multan Conference, 20 Jan 1972: The day the bomb was born. Islamabad, Pakistan: Usman Shabbir published as cover story in Defence Journal (May 2004 issue). p. 1. Archived from the original on 24 December 2018. Retrieved 10 October 2012. Dr. Ishfaq Ahmad (a theoretical physicist) and others involved in critical technologies and projects worked as a team, and gave ultimate security to Pakistan... Quoted by: Pakistan Defence Journal, 2004
    3. ^ a b (Rehman 1999, pp. 71–72)
    4. ^ a b (Rehman 1999, pp. 78–80)
    5. ^ (Rehman 1999, pp. 18–20)
    6. ^ "Famed nuclear scientist Ishfaq Ahmed passes away". Samaa TV. 19 January 2018. Retrieved 23 January 2018.
    7. ^ "Renowned nuclear scientist 'Dr Ishfaq Ahmad' laid to the rest". Business Plus. 21 January 2018. Retrieved 23 January 2018.
    8. ^ Rahi, Arwin (25 February 2020). "Why Afghanistan should leave Pakistani Pashtuns alone". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
    9. ^ a b c d e (PAS), Pakistan Academy of Sciences (2012). "Fellow: Dr. Ishfaq Ahmad-PAS". The Office of Pakistan Academy of Sciences. Archived from the original on 24 December 2018. Retrieved 12 October 2012..
    10. ^ Sheikh, Majid (22 October 2017). "The history of Lahore's Kakayzais". Dawn. Pakistan. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
    11. ^ "Career of Tahir Hussain". Pride of Pakistan.
    12. ^ a b c Rehman, Mumtazul Haque. "Appendix". Montreal Religious Sites Project. McGill University. Retrieved 25 April 2010.
    13. ^ a b Demers, Pierre. "Decade 1950–59". Demers Group of Physics. Retrieved 8 November 2014.
    14. ^ Friends, The Successful Pakistan in and Around the World. "See:Prof. Ishfaq Ahmad". friendskorner.com.
    15. ^ Dr. Ishfaq Ahmad. "Minister Planning Commission: Dr. Ishfaq Ahmad (N.I, H.I, S.I)". Planning Commission of Pakistan. Jawaid Azfar, Computer Centre of Planning Commission. Archived from the original on 10 April 2010.
    16. ^ Ahmad, Ishfaq; et al. (1966). "Resonance in the Nucleus". Progress of Theoretical Physics. 35 (1–3). Retrieved 11 October 2012.
    17. ^ (NPT), Nazaria-i-Pakistan Trust; Khalid Mahmood Asim (2003). "Dr. Ishfaq Ahmad". Prominent Scientists of Pakistan. Archived from the original on 13 January 2010. Retrieved 25 April 2010.
    18. ^ Ishfaq Ahmad. "Í ABSURPTIÜN ÜF FAST Tt MESÜNS IN NUCLEAR EMULSIUN". EUROPEAN ORGANIZATION FOR NUCLEAR RESEARCH.
    19. ^ a b c d e CERN Courier (5 October 2003). "CERN and Pakistan: a personal perspective" (cws). CERN Courier services. CERN. Retrieved 26 March 2014.
    20. ^ "People". CERN Courier. 39 (6): 32. July 1999.
    21. ^ "CERN and Pakistan strengthen agreement". CERN Courier. 40 (6): 9. July 2000.
    22. ^ a b c d e IAS. "Prof. Ishfaq Ahmad". Islamic Academy of Sciences. Retrieved 11 October 2012.
    23. ^ a b c IAEA archives. "Technical cooperation with IAEA". IAEA archives. Retrieved 26 March 2014.
    24. ^ a b c d e RAI MUHAMMAD SALEH AZAM. "When Mountains Move – The Story of Chagai". RAI MUHAMMAD SALEH AZAM. The Nation, 2000. Archived from the original on 1 April 2012. Retrieved 12 October 2012.
    25. ^ (Rehman 1999, pp. 80–81)
    26. ^ (Rehman 1999, pp. 99–100)
    27. ^ Azam, Rai Muhammad Saleh (June 2000). "See: Kirana Hills: The Cold Tests". Defense Journal of Pakistan. Archived from the original on 1 April 2012.
    28. ^ .
    29. .
    30. .
    31. ^ Sublette, Carey. "Pakistan's Nuclear Weapons Program - Development". nuclearweaponarchive.org.
    32. ^ (NPT), Ashfaque; Khalid Mahmood Asim (2003). "Dr. Ashfaque Ahmad". Prominent Scientists of Pakistan. Nazaria-i-Pakistan Trust. Archived from the original on 13 January 2010. Retrieved 25 April 2010.
    33. ^ Ibid, (Pakistan's Leaders Online), See
    34. ^ IIASA, International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (2009). "Council Member: Dr. Ahmad, Ishfaq". IIASA-National Member Organization:Pakistan. Directorate of National Member Organizations and Council Members. Archived from the original on 27 June 2005.
    35. ^ (GCISC), Global Change Impact Studies Centre (2006). "GCISC Advisory Committee". Global Change Impact Studies Centre.
    36. ^ "The Future Role of Nuclear Power in Member States", Sustainable Development: A Role for Nuclear Power?, IAEA Sustainable Development: A Role for Nuclear Power?, 28–29 September 1999
    37. ^ Staff reports. "'Nuclear power programme meets". Daily Times. Retrieved 12 October 2012.
    38. ^ Ahmad, Ishfaq (18–22 September 2000). "Statement by Dr. Ishfaq Ahmad. Leader of the Pakistan Delegation to the 44th IAEA General Conference. Vienna" (google docs). IAEA Press Release. Retrieved 12 October 2012.
    39. ^ Anis, Mohammad (3 October 2012). "HMC-3 gets licence to produce parts for N-plants". The News International. Retrieved 12 October 2012.

    Further reading

    • Rehman, Shahidur (1999) [1999], "§Untold story of Pakistan's Nuclear Quest", Long Road to Chagai, vol. 1, Islamabad, Islamabad Capital Territory: Printwise Publications, pp. 70–100,

    External links

    Government offices
    Preceded by Science Advisor to the Prime Minister Secretariat
    1996–2001
    Succeeded by
    Preceded by
    Atta ur Rahman
    Science Advisor to the Prime Minister Secretariat
    30 March 2008 – 16 March 2013
    Succeeded by