KARACHI: The Asian Academy of Sciences (AAS), based in Hong Kong, has announced the election of Pakistan’s leading scientist, Prof. Atta-ur-Rahman, as an Honorary Academician in recognition of his outstanding contributions to global science, research, and education.
According to a statement issued by the International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences (ICCBS), University of Karachi, the announcement was made through an official communication from Prof. Dr. Elchin Khalilov, President of the AAS. The Academy lauded Prof. Rahman’s lifelong commitment to advancing scientific knowledge and his leadership in fostering regional and global cooperation in science and technology.
The official inauguration ceremony will take place during the AAS General Assembly on November 22, 2025, followed by a ceremonial session in China in March 2026, where Prof. Rahman will be awarded the Golden Breast Insignia — the highest distinction of the AAS, made from 999-carat gold and reserved for world-renowned scientists.
The AAS President highlighted Prof. Rahman’s distinguished global standing, noting his fellowships in prestigious institutions such as The Royal Society (London), the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and the Korean Academy of Science and Technology. He also praised Prof. Rahman’s leadership and contributions to international scientific collaboration.
Prof. Atta-ur-Rahman is Pakistan’s most decorated scientist, having received the country’s four top civil awards — Tamgha-i-Imtiaz, Sitara-i-Imtiaz, Hilal-i-Imtiaz, and Nishan-i-Imtiaz. His international accolades include the UNESCO Science Prize, the TWAS Prize for Institution Building, and the Austrian Government’s High Civil Award.
For his exceptional collaboration with China, he was awarded the People’s Republic of China’s International Science and Technology Cooperation Award and appointed as a Foreign Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Several research institutions in China, Malaysia, and Pakistan bear his name, including the Atta-ur-Rahman One Belt and One Road TCM Research Center in Hunan, China, and the Atta-ur-Rahman Institute on Natural Product Discovery (AuRINS) in Malaysia.
