Pakistani-Americans Rising Strength in Academia
Recent appointment of Karachi-born Irfan Siddiqui as Chairman of the Physics Department at the University of California at Berkeley highlights the growing numbers of Pakistani-Americans in the top ranks of the academia. Dr. Irfan Siddiqui is among the top US experts in quantum computing. He is also the head of Lawrence Livermore Quantum Computing Lab at UC Berkeley. He's also one of the architects of the United States Quantum Initiative backed by industry, academia and the federal government.
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| Pakistani-American Professor Dr. Irfan Siddiqui, Chairman of Physics Dept at UC Berkeley |
In addition to Dr. Irfan Siddiqui, there are many other high-profile Pakistani-American academics. For example, astrophysicist Dr. Nergis Mavalvala is the Dean of the School of Science at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Dr. Asad Abidi is a professor of electrical engineering at the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA). Economist Dr. Asim Khwaja is Director of the Center for International Development (CID) at Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government. Dr. Atif Rehman Mian is a professor of Economics, Public Policy, and Finance at Princeton University. Lina Khan was a professor at Columbia University Law School before she was named Chairperson of the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) by President Joseph R. Biden. Dr. Mark Humayun is a professor of ophthalmology, biomedical engineering, and integrative anatomical sciences at University of Southern California (USC). Dr. Mansoor Mohiuddin is professor of medicine and director of Cardiac Xenotransplantation Program at the University of Maryland. Dr. Adil Najam is a professor of International Relations and of Earth and Environment at Boston University. These are just a few of high-profile Pakistani-Americans currently teaching at top universities in the United States.
As of today, Wikipedia lists 39 professors of Pakistani origin and 171 professors of Indian origin teaching at US universities.
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| Dr. Nergis Mavalvala (L) and Riaz Haq |
As of 2019, there were 35,000 Pakistan-born STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) workers in the United States, according to the American Immigration Council. They included information technologists, software developers, engineers and scientists. These figures do not include 12,454 medical doctors from Pakistan.
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| Foreign-Born STEM Workers in America. Source: American Immigration Council |
Foreign-born workers make up a growing share of America's STEM workforce. As of 2019, foreign-born workers made up almost a quarter of all STEM workers in the country. This is a significant increase from 2000, when just 16.4% of the country’s STEM workforce was foreign-born. Between 2000 and 2019, the overall number of STEM workers in the United States increased by 44.5 percent, from 7.5 million to more than 10.8 million, according to American Immigration Council.
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| India and Pakistan Among Top 10 Countries Receiving US Immigrant Visas. Source: Visual Capitalist |
India topped the top 10 list of foreign-born STEM workers with 721,000, followed by China (273,000), Mexico (119,000), Vietnam (100,000), Philippines (87,000), South Korea (64,000), Canada (56,000), Taiwan (53,000), Russia (45,000) and Pakistan (35,000). Enormous number of Indian STEM workers in the United States can at least partly be attributed to the fact that India's "body shops" have mastered the art of gaming the US temporary work visa system. Last year, Indian nationals sponsored by "body shops" like Cognizant, Infosys and TCS received 166,384 H1B visas for work in the United States. By comparison, only 1,107 Pakistanis were granted H1B visas in Fiscal Year 2022. In addition to H1B work visas, 9,300 Indian nationals and 7,200 Pakistani nationals received immigrant visas to settle in the United States as permanent residents in 2021.
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In addition to 35,000 Pakistan-born STEM workers, there were 12,454 Pakistan-born and Pakistan-trained medical doctors practicing in the United States, making the South Asian nation the second largest source of medical doctors in America. Pakistan produced 157,102 STEM graduates last year, putting it among the world's top dozen or so countries. About 43,000 of these graduates are in information technology (IT).
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| H1B Visas Issued in Pakistan. Source: Visagrader.com |
Every year, applicants sponsored by Indian body shops claim the lion's share of H1B visas. In 2022, Indians received 166,384 new H1B visas, accounting for nearly three quarters of all such visas issued by the US government. The figures reported as India IT exports are in fact the wages earned by millions of Indian H1B workers in the United States.
Related Links:
Stanford Ranks 243 Pakistan Scientists Among 2% of Top Scientists in the World
Pakistan Projected to Be World's 6th Largest Economy By 2075
35,000 Pakistan-Born STEM Workers in US
Growing Share of Working Age Population in Pakistan
Pakistan Scientific Output is World's Fastest Growing
India's Chandrayaan 3 Success: Can Pakistanis Explore Space?
Digital Pakistan 2022
Pakistan's Large and Growing Civil Nuclear Program
Riaz Haq's Youtube Channel
Comments
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:American_academics_of_Indian_descent
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:American_academics_of_Pakistani_descent
This is latest US Census update from Wikipedia, top 2 hoseholds incomes here are Indians and Pakistanis. Israelis are now much below:
In the past two years, an overall 33% increase has been noted
https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1129600-us-records-16-increase-in-admission-of-pakistani-students
A United States Department of State report recorded a 16% increase in the admission of Pakistani students to universities across the country.
The annual Open Doors Report for 2022-23 report, prepared in collaboration with the Institute of International Education (IIE), highlighted a substantial increase in the number of students from Pakistan studying in higher education institutions in the US.
"During 2022-2023, there were 10,164 Pakistani students, compared to 8,772 in the previous year, indicating an impressive 16% increase," the report read.
It also underscores the continued prominence of the US as the top destination for international study in the 2022-2023 academic year. Notably, the data reveals a significant milestone, with the US hosting over one million (1,057,188) international students during this period, marking a remarkable 12% increase from the previous academic year and representing the fastest growth rate in over four decades.
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International students in the U.S., by country of origin 2022/23 | Statista
10,164 students from Pakistan studying in America, ranking the country the 16th largest source of international students in the US
https://www.statista.com/statistics/233880/international-students-in-the-us-by-country-of-origin/
By Zohaib Altaf and Nimrah Javed
June 27, 2024
https://thediplomat.com/2024/06/pakistans-quantum-quest-hurdles-and-hopes/
Pakistan is poised to make significant strides in the field of quantum technology with the establishment of its National Center for Quantum Computing, as announced by Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal. This initiative marks a critical step toward overcoming the global quantum divide – if Pakistan can overcome the associated challenges, including economic constraints and a significant brain drain.
Globally, the quantum technology market is expected to burgeon, reaching an estimated $106 billion by 2040. This growth is fueled by robust investments, with private investors pouring $1.5 billion into quantum startups in 2023 alone. Public sector investment has also been significant, surpassing $38 billion globally. The United States, European Union, and Canada collectively committed over $3 billion in 2022. China leads the way with a staggering $15.3 billion total investment.
Despite these global advancements, a significant quantum divideexists, as the majority of countries lack national quantum initiatives. This divide creates substantial disparities in technological capabilities and economic opportunities. Countries without robust quantum technology infrastructures are at risk of falling behind, facing increased cyber vulnerabilities, and struggling to compete in the global economy.
For Pakistan, this divide is particularly concerning. Kaspersky Lab has ranked Pakistan among the most unprotected countriesin terms of cybersecurity, highlighting the urgent need for improved defenses as countries venture into the quantum technology domain.
India’s ambitious quantum initiatives further underscore the challenges facing Pakistan. India’s investment in quantum technology not only bolsters its technological capabilities but also poses a strategic challenge to Pakistan. India has also announced its National Quantum Mission, investing approximately $740 million over eight years. In addition, India is also cooperating with the United States, Australia, and Russia on quantum technology, forging strategic partnerships to enhance its capabilities and position in the global quantum landscape.
The Indian Army’s emphasis on integrating quantum computinginto its defense systems highlights the potential for a significant shift in the regional balance of power. Pakistani Army Chief Gen. Asim Munir has acknowledged these developments, emphasizing the importance of Pakistan’s investment in quantum computingto maintain its strategic equilibrium.
However, Pakistan’s efforts to establish a successful quantum initiative are hindered by several challenges. The most pressing issue is the ongoing brain drain. From 1971 to 2022, over 6 million highly qualified and skilled professionals emigrated from Pakistan, including doctors, engineers, and IT experts. In 2022 alone, 92,000 highly educated professionals left the country, with nearly 200,000 people emigrating in the first three months of 2023. This trend poses a substantial challenge to Pakistan’s efforts to build and sustain a robust quantum technology sector.
In a country where illiteracy rates are high and educational standards are low, the mass exodus of young and educated professionals is particularly troubling. According to the Pakistan Institute of Development Economics, 67 percent of Pakistani youths want to leave the country. This statistic underscores the difficulty of retaining talent and bringing back professionals from abroad to work on quantum initiatives. The challenge is further compounded by Pakistan’s economic situation. The country is currently under an IMF program, which imposes stringent financial constraints and increases the risks associated with investing in high-cost technologies like quantum computing.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/quantum-computing-google-ibm-advances-60-minutes-transcript/
To understand the change, go back to 1947 and the invention of a switch called a transistor.
Computers have processed information on transistors ever since, getting faster as more transistors were squeezed onto a chip--billions of them today.
But it takes that many because each transistor holds information in only two states. It's either on or it's off-- like a coin-- heads or tails. Quantum abandons transistors and encodes information on electrons that behave like this coin we created with animation. Electrons behave in a way so that they are heads and tails and everything in between. You've gone from handling one bit of information at a time on a transistor to exponentially more data.
Michio Kaku: You can see that there's a fantastic amount of information stored, when you can look at all possible angles, not just up or down.
Physicist Michio Kaku of the City University of New York, already calls today's computers "classical." He uses a maze to explain quantum's difference.
Michio Kaku: Let's look at a classical computer calculating how a mouse navigates a maze. It is painful. One by one, it has to map every single left turn, right turn, left turn, right turn before it finds the goal. Now a quantum computer scans all possible routes simultaneously. This is amazing. How many turns are there? Hundreds of possible turns, right? Quantum computers do it all at once.
Kaku's book, titled "Quantum Supremacy," explains the stakes.
Michio Kaku: We're looking at a race, a race between China, between IBM, Google, Microsoft, Honeywell, all the big boys are in this race to create a workable, operationally efficient quantum computer. Because the nation or company that does this, will rule the world economy.
But a reliable, general purpose, quantum computer is a tough climb yet. Maybe that's why this wall is in the lobby of Google's quantum lab in California.
Here, we got an inside look, starting with a microscope's view of what replaces the transistor.
Google employee: This right here is one qubit and this is another qubit, this is a five qubit chain.
Those crosses, at the bottom, are qubits, short for quantum bits. They hold the electrons and act like artificial atoms. Unlike transistors, each additional qubit doubles the computer's power. It's exponential. so, while 20 transistors are 20 times more powerful than one. Twenty qubits are a million times more powerful than one.
Charina Chou: So this gets positioned right here on the fridge.
Charina Chou, chief operating officer of Google's lab, showed us the processor that holds the qubits. Much of that above chills the qubits to what physicists call near absolute zero.
Scott Pelley: Near absolute zero I understand is about 460 degrees below zero Fahrenheit. So that's about as cold as anything can get.
Charina Chou: Yes, almost as cold as possible.
That temperature, inside a sealed computer, is one of the coldest places in the universe. The deep freeze eliminates electrical resistance and isolates the qubits from outside vibrations so they can be controlled with an electro-magnetic field. The qubits must vibrate in unison. But that's a tough trick called coherence.
Scott Pelley: Once you have achieved coherence of the qubits, how easy is that to maintain?
@0x_ale
The hidden truth about India's brain drain?
It's not just about loss, but transformation.
Sometimes the biggest exports aren't products.
They're people who change the world.
This is the new “oil” that nations will compete for.
https://x.com/0x_ale/status/1874897365133643808
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Alessandro Palombo
@0x_ale
This is India:
- 11% of Fortune 500 CEOs
- 90+ unicorn founders are Indian-born
- 1/3 of all engineers in Silicon Valley are from India
Why have they all left India to succeed?
Here's the hidden truth about the world's most controversial brain drain 🧵:
https://x.com/0x_ale/status/1874896954771329162
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Alessandro Palombo
@0x_ale
First, let's understand the scale of this exodus:
- 1.3M Indians left between 2015-2022
- 225,000 renounced citizenship in 2022 alone
- 1.5M Indian students studying overseas
This isn't just migration…it's a transformation of global leadership.
https://x.com/0x_ale/status/1874897002905096520
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Alessandro Palombo
@0x_ale
The economic impact is staggering:
- IT sector missing $15-20B yearly potential
- Shortage of 2.4M doctors
- $160B lost annually to brain drain
For perspective:
That's more than India's entire defense budget (~$74.3B).
https://x.com/0x_ale/status/1874897020563140714
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Alessandro Palombo
@0x_ale
Look at the paradox:
India simultaneously:
- Leads global tech companies
- Produces top innovators
- Creates world-class talent
Yet struggles to keep any of them.
The reason? There are a few key factors…
https://x.com/0x_ale/status/1874897054474117197
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Alessandro Palombo
@0x_ale
The reality on the ground:
- 7.33% unemployment rate (2022)
- Significantly lower wages than global standards
- Limited R&D investment
- Restricted innovation opportunities
This creates a powerful push factor.
https://x.com/0x_ale/status/1874897120765132863
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Alessandro Palombo
@0x_ale
But here's where it gets interesting…
While India loses talent, it gains something else:
- Massive remittance inflows
- Global knowledge transfer
- International influence
A hidden advantage that will only strengthen as global mobility increases
https://x.com/0x_ale/status/1874897153983926344
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Alessandro Palombo
@0x_ale
The story is clear:
- Microsoft
- Google
- Adobe
- IBM
All run by Indians who left India.
But now something fascinating is happening...
https://x.com/0x_ale/status/1874897170282975581
A globally renowned doctor and scholar who has devoted more than 25 years to improving healthcare in low- and middle-income countries, Adnan Hyder joins BU as the Robert A. Knox Professor and the next dean of SPH.
https://www.bu.edu/sph/news/articles/2025/dr-adnan-hyder-named-dean-of-boston-university-school-of-public-health/
Dr. Adnan Hyder, Pakistan-born public health expert, has been appointed Dean of Boston University’s School of Public Health. With 25+ years of experience, he’s known for pioneering research in global health and bioethics. A proud Aga Khan University and Johns Hopkins alum, Dr. Hyder has trained thousands and published over 400 papers. He will start his new role on August 15, 2025.
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2587116/pakistan-american-surgeon-appointed-chief-ai-officer-at-us-college-of-medicine
Dr Adil Haider says AI can strengthen healthcare systems at scale if implemented responsibly
Pakistani-American surgeon-scientist Dr Adil Haider has been appointed the Inaugural Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer (CAIO) at the Carle Illinois College of Medicine (CI MED), the world’s first engineering-based medical school, according to a press statement issued on Wednesday.
The newly created role marks a major milestone in Dr Haider’s global career spanning Pakistan, the United Arab Emirates, and the United States. As CAIO, he will lead the strategic and responsible integration of artificial intelligence across medical education, research, and clinical innovation at CI MED.
Dr Haider joins Carle Illinois after completing a transformative 6.5-year tenure as Dean of the Aga Khan University Medical College in Pakistan. During his leadership, the institution quadrupled its research funding, achieved top-100 global ranking status, and secured multiple international accreditations. Widely respected for his mentorship and accessibility, he remained a popular figure among students.
Speaking on his appointment, Dr Haider said artificial intelligence has the potential to strengthen healthcare systems at scale if implemented responsibly and grounded in real clinical needs.
CI MED Dean Mark Cohen said the appointment reflects the institution’s commitment to making artificial intelligence foundational to the future of medicine, adding that Dr Haider’s leadership would ensure innovation remains ethical and patient-centred.
Dr Haider will also serve as Medical Director for Research Informatics at Carle Foundation Hospital and as a Visiting Professor at the University of Illinois’ Grainger College of Engineering.
Dr Haider has authored over 450 publications, secured more than $200 million in research funding, and founded Boston Health AI in 2024, with a mission to improve care for one billion patients worldwide.
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CI MED Appoints International Expert to Lead AI Initiatives
https://medicine.illinois.edu/news/ci-med-appoints-international-expert-to-lead-AI-initiatives
Carle Illinois College of Medicine has appointed internationally recognized surgeon-scientist, biotech entrepreneur, and academic leader Dr. Adil Haider as its inaugural Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer (CAIO).
In this newly created role, Haider will lead the strategic vision, development, and responsible deployment of artificial intelligence (AI) across CI MED. He will be responsible for advancing AI-enabled medical education, translational research, and clinical innovation.
Adil Haider (left) has been appointed by CI MED Dean Mark Cohen (right) as the college's first Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer.
Adil Haider (left) has been appointed by CI MED Dean Mark Cohen (right) as the college's first Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer.
“By establishing the role of chief AI officer, Carle Illinois is signaling that artificial intelligence is not peripheral, but foundational to the future of medicine,” said CI MED Dean Mark Cohen. “Dr. Haider brings a unique combination of academic rigor, clinical expertise, and entrepreneurial experience. His leadership will help ensure that AI at Carle Illinois is innovative, ethical, and meaningfully improves health outcomes, transforming our clinical, research, innovation, and educational missions for the future.”
In addition to his duties at CI MED, Haider will serve as the medical director for research informatics at Carle Foundation Hospital, strengthening alignment between academic innovation and real-world clinical practice. In this dual role, Haider will help integrate advanced informatics and AI-driven tools to enhance care delivery, clinical efficiency, and the patient experience across the Carle Health system.
https://thequantuminsider.com/2026/02/05/pakistan-to-host-quantum-computing-hackathon-at-ncp/
Insider Brief
Pakistan will host its first national Quantum Computing Hackathon from February 6–8 at the National Centre for Physics, bringing together early-career researchers to work on quantum-based solutions aligned with UN Sustainable Development Goals.
The event is organized by PIEAS and NILOP under PAEC, in collaboration with NCP, with international support from Open Quantum Initiatives and CERN.
More than 950 applications were received nationwide, with 42 participants selected into seven teams to receive expert mentorship and access to quantum processing units.
Photo from Pexels by Talha Riaz.
Pakistan will host its first Quantum Computing Hackathon from February 6 to February 8 at the National Centre for Physics (NCP), marking the country’s inaugural national event focused on quantum computing, UrduPoint reported. The three-day hackathon is expected to bring together young researchers and innovators from across Pakistan to develop quantum-based solutions aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
The event is jointly organized by the Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences (PIEAS) and the National Institute of Lasers and Optronics (NILOP), operating under the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC), in collaboration with the National Centre for Physics, according to source. The initiative has also received international support from Open Quantum Initiatives (OQI) and the European Council for Nuclear Research (CERN) as part of a UN-backed science diplomacy effort.
More than 950 applications were submitted nationwide, reflecting strong interest in quantum technologies. Following a selection process, 42 participants were shortlisted and divided into seven teams.
The selected teams will receive mentorship from national and international experts and will be provided hands-on access to quantum processing units during the hackathon. CERN is supporting the event through technical mentorship, certifications, and prizes, while an international jury comprising experts from the United States, Switzerland, and Pakistan will evaluate the final projects.
UrduPoint also noted that the event aims to strengthen Pakistan’s quantum research ecosystem and encourage innovation among early-career scientists while connecting emerging technologies with national development priorities. Senior academic leaders, heads of scientific research organizations, and officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of IT and Telecommunications, the Pakistan Academy of Sciences, and provincial authorities are expected to attend, highlighting institutional participation in the event.