LAHORE: Two young Pakistani mathematicians have been selected by an international committee for the first Abdus Salam Medal for Mathematics.

Comprising Prof Stefano Luzzatto of the International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP), Trieste, and Prof Jeroen Lamb of the Imperial College, London, the committee selected Dr Ayesha Asloob Qureshi and Dr Sahibzada Waleed Noor, National Mathematical Society of Pakistan (NMSP) President Dr Ahmad Mahmood Qureshi told Dawn here on Wednesday.

The rigorous evaluation process put in place by the international panel of mathematicians has made the Abdus Salam Medal the most prestigious Pakistani award for young mathematicians, he said.

The medal would be the second award named after Pakistan’s first Nobel Laureate.

In order to take the Pakistani mathematical community on a course of quality research and to encourage individuals who have dedicated their lives to serious research in mathematics, the Abdus Salam Shield of Honour (ASSH) was created in April 2015. The first recipient of this award was Prof Hassan Azad of King Fahad University of Petroleum and Minerals, Saudi Arabia.

“The award is given to someone who sacrificed his or her working life pursuing serious mathematical research at the possible cost of short-term career incentives and high publication counts,” said Dr Qureshi.

Continuing with the same spirit, the Abdus Salam Medal (ASM) was created in 2017 to honour young Pakistani mathematicians having received their doctoral degree within the last 10 years.

“The award is meant to send a clear message to a new generation of mathematicians in Pakistan that dedicating oneself to serious mathematics and overcoming the temptation of short-term incentives and shortcuts will bring rewards and international recognition,” said the NMSP president.

Published in Dawn, February 8th, 2018