CIIT rector’s tenure extended

Islamabad: Founder Rector of COMSATS Institute of Information Technology (CIIT), Dr. S. M. Junaid Zaidi, SI  tenure was extended for one year during CIIT Board of Governors meeting, presided over by Federal Minister for Science and Technology Rana Tanveer  Hussain, as CIIT Chancellor, says a press release. 

Appreciating more than decade long contribution by Dr. Junaid Zaidi and for continuation of various ongoing initiates, the board approved further one year extension. Board of Governors (BOG) consisting of eminent scientists, educationists and policymakers including Executive Director, COMSATS, Secretary  Ministry of Science and Technology and representatives  of Ministry of Information Technology, Ministry of Education, Higher Education Commission, NESCOM, PAEC etc., and the academia.

Dr. S. M. Junaid Zaidi, S.I. is the Founder Rector of the COMSATS Institute of Information Technology (CIIT), Pakistan’s first exclusive institute of information technology. 

Dr Zaidi’s professional experience spans more than 40 years in a diverse range of fields. The establishment of IT ventures and development of IT policies remains the epic highlight of his career.

He is an experienced educationist. In the early 1970s, he earned two master degrees in Physics and Mathematics from the University of Punjab. In the early 1980s he successfully completed another master degree in Operations Research from University of Birmingham, England (UK) and subsequently earned a doctorate from there, specializing in Optimization of Algorithms on Networking.

Before assuming the leadership of CIIT, he served in many high profile positions at the United Nations (UN) and in the Government of Pakistan. During his association with the UN, Dr Zaidi served as Advisor to the Malaysian Government and developed the country’s Information Technology Policy. 

Later, he was appointed as full time advisor with the United Nations ESCAP Asia and Pacific Center for Transfer of Technology, where he contributed significantly to the enhancement of technology and information handling capabilities of developing countries of the region and also established a computerized on-line network of Asian and Pacific countries. 

During this period, Dr Zaidi undertook several advisory missions to countries like Fiji, Ghana, Indonesia, Malaysia, Nepal, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Thailand and Vietnam as a UN-expert on IT and helped them establish their technology transfer and industrial technology information systems.

Lancaster University, United Kingdom awarded an Honorary Doctor of Science (D.Sc) degree to Rector, Dr. S. M. Junaid Zaidi on July 19, 2012. Besides, in recognition of his commendable continued service to society, the Government of Pakistan conferred upon Dr Zaidi the prestigious national award, “Sitara-i-Imtiaz” in 2007. Earlier, in 2001, he was awarded one of the highest IT awards, “IT Pioneer 1987-1995,” by NCR Corporation for his contribution to the promotion and development of IT.