HEC Celebrates Pakistan's Brightest IT Talent in NSCT 2026

The Higher Education Commission (HEC) has announced the National Merit List of the Top 17 Achievers in the National Skill Competency Test (NSCT) 2026, recognizing the country's most outstanding emerging IT professionals. Conducted at the direction of the Prime Minister, NSCT 2026 marks Pakistan's first national benchmark for assessing IT graduates' competencies.

This landmark assessment attracted participation from over 33,000 students representing 188 universities nationwide, making it one of the largest evaluations of digital and computing skills. The top achievers demonstrated exceptional proficiency in computing, information technology, innovation, and future-ready skills, reflecting the growing strength of Pakistan's higher education sector.

Leading the national rankings is Zain-ul-Abden of the University of Sindh, Jamshoro, who secured an impressive 97%, followed by Faheem Rasheed of the Virtual University of Pakistan with 96%, and Muhammad Nadir of Abasyn University, Peshawar, who earned 95%. The merit list also features talented students from universities across all regions of Pakistan, highlighting the country's expanding pool of highly skilled IT graduates.

HEC congratulated all the achievers, stating that their outstanding performance reflects dedication, academic excellence, and readiness to contribute to Pakistan's digital transformation. The NSCT initiative is expected to serve as a national benchmark for strengthening graduate employability, promoting quality assurance in higher education, and preparing a globally competitive digital workforce.