Message from HEC

Messages from Higher Education Commission, Pakistan

Message from the Chairman, HEC

It gives me immense pleasure to extend my heartfelt welcome to all the distinguished participants attending the 58th Asia Pacific Advanced Network (APAN) gathering in Islamabad on 26-30 August 2024, hosted by the Higher Education Commission (HEC). I am proud to share that HEC is hosting this physical APAN meeting in Pakistan for the first time and we are committed to facilitate a platform for the global academic community to connect and explore avenues of mutual interest and sustainable growth.

With the advancement of Artificial Intelligence and demand for high-speed computations, the side event of the APAN Conference on Artificial Intelligence and High-Performance Computing (HPC) can be considered a timely event. The APAN provides an excellent forum for collaboration and connectivity between member countries.

One of the primary outcomes of this organization for our country in particular is the development of the Pakistan Education and Research Network (PERN) which is extremely efficient and a highly reliable source of communication among the Higher Education Institutes. As Chairperson of HEC, I feel pride in stating that PERN has become a national pride. I always promote research and academic collaborations among different societies to make our world a place for peace for all and consider education as the best diplomacy between nations. I look forward to sharing knowledge, ideas and experiences which will take place during the 58th APAN Meeting to further strengthen our global ties. May this event contribute to the continuous growth and connectivity of academic and research networks across our members and other countries.

Dr Mukhtar Ahmad,

Chairman, Higher Education Commission (HEC)

Message from the Executive Director, HEC

As the Executive Director of the Higher Education Commission (HEC), it is an honor to extend my warm welcome to each of you to Islamabad for the 58th APAN meeting. This event provides a great opportunity to exchange ideas, collaborate on cutting-edge research, and build networks that transcend borders. The Asia Pacific Advanced Network (APAN) has been a source of collaboration and connectivity among member countries, and HEC is proud to be part of this endeavor.

The Pakistan Education and Research Network (PERN) which is one of the significant achievements of this endeavor continues to grow and create greater impact on the academic communities in Pakistan. I am sure all participants will be engaged in discussions and sharing their experiences of their respective countries during this week-long event. Through the sharing of knowledge and success stories, the APAN shall further enhance the landscape of advanced networking and contribute to the collective advancement of knowledge and research.

Because of the PERN at Pakistan, it became possible to provide different facilities to educational institutions across including video conferencing, smart classrooms, safe campus, and joint licensing for expensive software. With the Higher Education Commission’s (HEC) renewed efforts, PERN and other networking advancements are poised to reach unprecedented heights in the near future. Hosting the 58th APAN is pivotal in ensuring the success of these efforts.
I look forward to a productive and inspiring meeting of the APAN Meeting at Islamabad!

Dr Zia ul Qayyum,

Executive Director, Higher Education Commission (HEC)

Message from Member IT, HEC

On behalf of the organizing committee and local host team at the Higher Education Commission (HEC), I welcome all attendees of the APAN 58 meeting in Islamabad. After my experience with APAN meeting at Thailand in February this year, I was deeply impressed with the enormous efforts the APAN is making to connect people and institutions. I am sure that this gathering at Islamabad will take the APAN efforts to new heights.

All participants as usual will play their role to contribute to the continued growth of academic and research connectivity in our region. The side line APAN conference is also crucial to inject research on different aspects of advancements in the fields related to APAN. HPC, AI and other modern technologies are key components to be covered in the APAN Conference.

It is a moment of pride for me to work with APAN on this event. We at Islamabad are determined to make every effort to make the event successful and make it an exemplary event too. My team at HEC is highly excited to facilitate an environment conducive to meaningful discussions and knowledge exchange during the 58th APAN Meeting. Let us collectively shape the future of advanced networking through collaboration and shared insights.

Best of luck for a successful event.

Dr Jamil Ahmad,

Member IT, HEC