LAHORE – Dr. Umar Saif, Vice Chancellor Information Technology Univerity (ITU) has joined the Cabinet of Punjab as the new advisor to the Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif here on Monday.
The news came recently as the CM Punjab’s cabinet has seen the addition of more advisors. Umar’s status would be equivalent to provincial minister.
Umar Saif took to Twitter soon after the appointment:
https://twitter.com/umarsaif/status/803097368648445952
Umar Saif is a Pakistani entrepreneur and computer scientist who has completed his academics from LUMS, Cambridge and MIT. He also became youngest PhD of Pakistan by completing the degree at the age of 23.
Dr Saif was appointed the founding Vice-Chancellor of the Information Technology University (ITU), Punjab in 2013 where he is responsible for establishing the university and its courses. He has also received Sitara-e-Imtiaz, highest civil award by the government for his exceptional work in 2015.
Among other achievements to his name, he was the first Pakistani in top 35 of young innovators in the world (TR35) by MIT Technology Review and also to receive Google Faculty Research Award in 2011.
Under the chair of Umar Saif, PITB (Punjab Information Technology Board)has completed dozens of projects that leverage information technology for the betterment of the masses.
In collaboration with Google, he led the development of Punjab Innovation Policy and launched Plan-9, Pakistan’s first and largest public-sector startup incubator.
