First Pakistani honoured with prestigious WTN award

E-Paper | June 14, 2026

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Dr. Athar Osama is the first Pakistani scholar honoured the WTN award. – Image Courtesy by WTN

KARACHI: Pakistani scholar Dr.Athar Osama has been awarded the prestigious World Technology Network (WTN) award and has also been elected as a fellow of the WTN. He is the first Pakistani who was honoured with the WTN award.

Osama was short-listed for the award as announced in a press release by WTN on September 5, 2011. WTN recognised www.Muslim-Science.com, founded by Osama as an agent of change and had been named as a finalist for the Science and Innovation Media Journalism category.

Osama received the award in a galaxy of luminaries and innovators from across the globe at the World Technology Summit in association with TIME, Fortune, CNN, American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and MIT’s Technology Review.

The WTN awards are widely seen as “Oscars of Science and Technology.” The Previous WTN award winners include Al Gore (US former Vice President), Mohammad Yunus (founder of Grameen Bank), Mark Zuckurberg (Facebook founder), Larry Page (Google) and Tim Berners – Lee (Inventor of Internet).

The awards were distributed on October 25-26, 2011 at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City, USA.

Dr. Athar Osama speaking to the participants after receiving WTN award. – Image Courtesy by WTN

WTN selects the finalists through a peer reviewed process and a well established criteria. On individual bases, the awards are distributed in 20 categories such as arts, biotechnology, education, energy, entertainment, health, media and journalism and information technology. WTN also awards to the companies and organisations in10 different categories. The WTN awards have been presented since 2000. Prominent advisors and professionals are included in the selection panel of WTN awards.

“This year we are more eager than ever to pay tribute to the talent and innovation of our individual and corporate honorees,” said James P. Clark, Founder and Chairman of the World Technology Network.

Osama frequently writes about science, technology and innovation issues especially on Islamic countries. He is the director of Middle East and Asia for ANGLE Plc – a UK based firm for technology commercialisation and policy. He also works at RAND Corporation in Santa Monica, CA as a science and technology policy analyst.

Recently, he launched Muslim-Science.Com, an online journal discussing the issues of Science, Technology, Innovation and Policy mainly concerned with Muslim countries.

Osama did his Bachelors from the Pakistan Air force Academy and did his doctorate in public policy from Pardee RAND Graduate School.

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Irfan

Oct 28, 2011 02:02pm

Its great honour for us, even for whole Muslim World.

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Malik from Australia

Oct 28, 2011 02:25pm

Well done Dr Osama. You make me and Pakistan proud. Keep up with good work. God bless you.

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nusrat osama

Oct 28, 2011 02:35pm

May Allah be with you in all your endeavors... this is the beginning inshaAllah.

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Wajahat

Oct 28, 2011 02:44pm

Its an honor. Congrats Sir

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Khalid

Oct 28, 2011 02:47pm

It is a matter of great honour for our nation. This great achivement must be projected repeatedly on our electronic media which at present is primarily focused to figure out grey areas in our society. Hope our media will show some mercy on us and this encouraging news may find some respectable coverage.

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Nawab Hussain

Oct 28, 2011 02:54pm

We all Pakistani are proud of you.Good work keep it up.Today Pakistan needs peoples like you,who are dedicated and hard worker.

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Abid Ullah

Oct 28, 2011 02:58pm

Well done.May Allah give you the strength to make further accomplishments for our country.

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manzoor ahmed

Oct 28, 2011 03:08pm

GOOD JOB DONE, YOU ARE REALLY GREAT.

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Bhagchand

Oct 28, 2011 03:13pm

Really a great honour for our country.

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Bhagchand

Oct 28, 2011 03:15pm

wao what a great honour for our country.

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Rehan

Oct 28, 2011 03:21pm

Dear Athar, Excellent brother. You are an icon and really worked your way up to this honor. I was witnessed to part of that in your academic years here in Pakistan. May Allah bless you in all your endeavors. Amen Regards,

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Fuzail Z. Ahmad

Oct 28, 2011 03:53pm

Dear Athar, I am absolutely thrilled by your achievements, and this particular one speaks volumes about where you are headed and will get there too, insha Allah. You have done your loved ones, your relatives and the whole country proud. May Allah SWT give you many more such recognitions. Ameen.

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Mohammad Ali Irshad

Oct 28, 2011 04:21pm

Congrats ... Wish you all the best for your future endeavors and yes its a great honor for Pakistan and the Muslim World! Hope that rest of us also do something that contributes positively. A great inspiration. :)

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Dr. Yameen Zubairi,

Oct 28, 2011 05:09pm

Congratulations to the fellow Pakistani for excelling. We in the West keep working to contribute to the glory of our heritage and our comrades at home keep working to embarrass us.

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Muhammad Farooq, Tor

Oct 28, 2011 05:44pm

Congratulations to Dr Athar Osama for this gr8 achievement. May Allah bless you with more strength, courage, wisdom and patience to continue this uphill task and serve the cause of Muslim community worldwide.

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ilyas

Oct 28, 2011 06:17pm

I really appriciate..This is an honour for us...but what Dr.Osam has done?....I dodnt understand ...can any one explain please...becuase the news is not that detailed....

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Dr Wequar Ali Khan

Oct 28, 2011 08:33pm

Pakistani talent can achieve great things. Congratulations Osama on this singular achievement.You have made us proud by your sincerity and deed. Dr Wequar Miami Florida

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Shabbir Ali

Oct 28, 2011 11:12pm

Really proud to be a part of that nation which has given birth to such a marvellous talent. Its a matter of great honor and pride for all of us, Indeed.

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Aamir Khalil

Oct 28, 2011 11:27pm

Sir its a great honor to see Pakistani Individuals making significant contributions . I Hope that our Government can take advice from such people in making better policies governing science Technology & innovation. I too have studied from the same institution as Dr. Athar so feel really proud.

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Noman Jafri

Oct 29, 2011 12:21am

Dear Dr. Athar, I congratulate you on this achievement and wish many more in future. As the nation feels proud of you so am I being class fellow of such talented scholar. May Allah bless you in all your endeavors. Amen

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Dr. Naeem Nazir Awan

Oct 29, 2011 01:20am

Dear Dr. Osama, I feel great pleasure to admit that you did a marvolus job and we all citizens of Pakistan feel proud and honour on this achivement. May Allah bless you and your family with good health and prosperity in the days to come. With best regards and wishes. Dr. Naeem Nazir Awan Sialkot - Pakistan

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Salamat Raja - Abroa

Oct 29, 2011 09:15am

Dear Dr. Athar, Congratulations! We Pakistanis are very happy & Proud of you. You are looking after ME & Asia at your job. Please do put your efforts to the better image building of Pakistanis among other nations. Devote your part of time to this and make an organization for the same objectives, we are with you.

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syeda ume-habiba

Oct 29, 2011 10:55am

Its an honour for all pakistanis to have such a brilliant andaincredible guy here !May allah! helps you to enlighten the name of Pakistan and clear the vision of pakistani nation Congragulations!!!!!!!

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M AFTAB ALAM KHAN

Oct 29, 2011 09:30pm

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SSM

Oct 30, 2011 12:41pm

its national pride!

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Niaz Muhammad

Oct 30, 2011 10:08pm

Is honour and not only for Pakistanis but also for Muslims all around to have such a genius in the field of science and technology.

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Kapil Soni......Indi

Oct 31, 2011 02:09am

Congrats Dr. Osama for such a great achievement and honour

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Shaista

Oct 31, 2011 08:56am

You've made us proud! Thanks, Shaista

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saqib baloch

Oct 31, 2011 09:31am

brilliant achievement,this will prove to b an image builder in the eyes of international community and will trigger a change in their perception regarding pakistani public in general and army in particular that we are exporter of talent not terrorism.

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Abdul Shakoor F. Bak

Oct 31, 2011 10:35am

It's great honour for the nation. Congrats!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It is the beginning, Insha-Allah.

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Sayed Atif

Oct 31, 2011 11:06am

Great JOb..... really honour for us.... but my question is there any chance for people like you to participate in country growth by any mean??????

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Hassan

Oct 31, 2011 12:34pm

Aoa May Allah bless you and your family..Ameen

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Dr. Zaidi

Oct 31, 2011 12:41pm

Dear Dr. Athar Well done may Allah give yo more success in life. Dr. Zaidi

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Musab Siddiqui

Oct 31, 2011 01:54pm

Its a great honour for us Pakistanis that you won this award. We hope more and more people start getting into these things as this would not only help there selves but also would be beneficial for the country.

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Athar Osama

Oct 31, 2011 10:05pm

Dear Atif: I try to contribute in the development of my country - Pakistan - despite all the odds and curve balls thrown in my way by the great leaders and policy-makers of my country. There are a lot of challenges from people who doesn't want the status quo to change but there are also a lot of well-meaning sincere people who want Pakistan to develop and prosper and tons of talent in our great land. I wish and pray that we're able to get over our governance challenges and capitalise on our immense potential. I am always available and happy to contribute. Best, Athar

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Saeed

Nov 01, 2011 10:38am

Very well done Dr. Sahib Wish you all the best and success in life. Whole Pakistan nation is honoured for your brilliant achievement. May Allah (swt) gives you success and prosperity in life. Ameen

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Imran sherwani

Nov 01, 2011 02:16pm

Really a great honour for our country & Its great honour for us, even for whole Muslim World May Allah bless you and your family..Ameen

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Ahmad Anas Siddiqi

May 18, 2012 07:05am

This is your great achivement and honour for Pakistan. May Allah bless you in all your endeavors. Amen

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Mustafa Aziz Siddiqi

May 22, 2012 09:45am

Well done may Allah give yo more success in life.

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