Dr. Shahid Mahmud, a distinguished pioneer of Pakistan’s science and information technology sector, has been recommended for the Hilal-i-Imtiaz, one of the country’s highest civilian honours, in recognition of his contributions to science, technology, telecommunications and youth development.
The announcement forms part of the Pakistan Civil Awards 2026, issued by the Cabinet Division on 14 August 2026 on the occasion of Pakistan’s Independence Day. The awards are scheduled to be conferred at an investiture ceremony on Pakistan Day, 23 March 2027.
A career dedicated to Pakistan’s scientific and technological advancement
The recommendation celebrates a career that has consistently placed Dr. Mahmud at the forefront of Pakistan’s scientific and technological advancement. As the Founder, CEO and Chairman of the Interactive Group of Companies, he has brought more than four decades of experience to the development of telecommunications, information technology and wireless media infrastructure in Pakistan.
Under his leadership, Interactive Group has grown into a significant force in the country’s science and ICT landscape, driving systems integration and enhanced connectivity to support critical sectors. The supporting nomination material credits Dr. Mahmud with helping establish major telecommunications, satellite, software and public-infrastructure initiatives in Pakistan.
He holds a PhD in Computer Sciences from Coventry University, United Kingdom, completed in 2016, as well as a master’s degree in Defence and Strategic Studies from the National Defence University, Pakistan, and a bachelor’s degree in Engineering from NED University, Pakistan.
He also serves as a Senior Fellow at the Global Think Tank Network and as Co-Chair for ICT on the Corporate Advisory Council of the National University of Sciences and Technology, while remaining engaged in futures research with universities.
From PhD in AI to leading Pakistan’s AI strategy for 57 nations
A defining feature of Dr. Mahmud’s contribution is the direct link between his academic research and his current strategic leadership role. His PhD in Computer Sciences focused on Artificial Intelligence, big-data analytics and predictive modelling. The supporting material states that this research was published in top-tier Q1 journals, including Future Generation Computer Systems by Elsevier, and has received more than 329 international citations.
This is not an academic credential in isolation. It is the intellectual foundation on which he now serves as Senior Honorary Advisor and Chairman of the AI Committee at OIC-COMSTECH, shaping Artificial Intelligence strategy and policy for 57 member states. In January 2026, he addressed the international conference titled “AI & Future of Work: Digital Nations in the Next Decade,” highlighting the long-term strategic implications of AI for digital nations across the Islamic world.
The trajectory is instructive and uniquely Pakistani: from founding the mobile industry in 1988, to building satellite and software infrastructure through the 1990s and 2000s, to earning a PhD in AI while leading a national enterprise, and now helping shape AI strategy for 57 OIC nations. It represents the full arc of a digital nation-builder, a journey that can inspire Pakistan’s young people to pursue science, technology and innovation as national callings.
Inspiring the next generation: The multiplier effect
Pakistan’s greatest strategic asset is its demographics, with more than 60 percent of the population under the age of 30. The Digital Nation Pakistan Act 2025 places youth empowerment at the centre of the country’s digital transformation agenda. Yet policy alone does not inspire; role models do.
The recognition’s inspirational impact extends across seven distinct institutional communities, each representing a pipeline of future national leaders. Dr. Mahmud is an alumnus of Cadet College Petaro and NED University, the founder of the Buraq Planetary Society, a former Eisenhower Fellowships trustee, an alumnus and faculty member of the National Defence University, a visiting faculty member at the National School of Public Policy, and a senior advisor and AI Committee chairman at OIC-COMSTECH.
| Community | Connection | Inspirational impact |
| Cadet College Petaro alumni | Alumnus | Demonstrates a path from disciplined education to national technology leadership. |
| NED University alumni | Bachelor of Engineering | Shows that engineering innovation can be recognized at the highest level. |
| Buraqians and the Buraq Planetary Society | Founder; 32 years of space camps | Validates STEM careers for thousands of young Pakistanis who have encountered the Society’s programmes. |
| Eisenhower Fellows | First Pakistani trustee; Distinguished Fellow | Signals that Pakistan honours its digital pioneers on global leadership platforms. |
| National Defence University alumni | Master’s degree; faculty member | Reinforces the connection between technology, strategic thinking and national security. |
| National School of Public Policy alumni | Visiting faculty member | Highlights the importance of the technology-policy intersection in public administration. |
| OIC-COMSTECH community | Senior Advisor; Chairman, AI Committee | Represents Pakistan’s contribution to AI strategy across 57 Islamic nations. |
Together, these networks create a multiplier effect. The recommendation tells students, engineers, researchers, civil servants and scientists that building national capabilities, pursuing academic excellence alongside entrepreneurship, and investing in the next generation can earn recognition at the highest level.
Contributions spanning telecommunications, space and software
The supporting nomination material identifies several milestones associated with Dr. Mahmud’s career, including the establishment of Paktel in 1988, the development of satellite connectivity initiatives, leadership in software engineering, and contributions to Pakistan’s IT policy architecture.
It also highlights his role in promoting science education through the Buraq Planetary Society, which he founded in 1993. Through space camps and related programmes, the Society has introduced young Pakistanis to astronomy, space science and technology for more than three decades.
The nomination material further links his work to international technology and leadership platforms, including the Eisenhower Fellowships network, China’s digital-economy discourse and OIC-COMSTECH’s AI initiatives. These claims are part of the supporting nomination material and are presented separately from the Cabinet Division’s award announcement.
Awards to be conferred on Pakistan Day
The Pakistan Civil Awards recognize citizens and foreign nationals for exceptional achievements, excellence and courage in their respective fields. The investiture ceremony on 23 March 2027 will formally present the announced awards to the selected recipients.
For Dr. Mahmud, the recommendation represents recognition not only of past achievements but also of an ongoing contribution to Pakistan’s digital and AI-driven future. From telecommunications and satellite infrastructure to artificial intelligence strategy and youth development, his career reflects the evolution of Pakistan’s technology ambitions across four decades.
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