Dr. Ishrat Hussain Usmani, (I.H.Usmani) who laid foundation of Pakistan Institute of Nuclear Science and Technology was born on April 15, 1917 and educated at Bombay University where he did his BSc (Hons) in 1937, MSc in 1938 and PhD from London University. In 1942, Dr. Usmani joined Indian Civil Service and migrated to Pakistan in 1947 and continued to wok as a Civil Servant in the newly created country on different important posts for five years.

Dr. Usmani worked as Adviser Science to the President of Pakistan. Later, in 1960, he was appointed Chairman, Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission which he headed till 1972. During his tenure as chairman, he engaged and trained a number of young scientists who later played pivotal role in the advancement of Nuclear Technology in Pakistan. He was the one to have laid foundation of PINSTECH and initiated Karachi Nuclear Power Plant that became functionary in 1972. At Faislabad, an Institute called Nuclear Institute for Agriculture (NIAB) was also established by Dr. Usmani. Likewise, he was responsible for establishing Nuclear Research Institutes for Medicine, Industry and Mineralogy at different cities such as Karachi, Lahore, Tando Jam, Dhaka, Chittagong and Memon Singh. It was at his initiation that a separate Ministry called the ‘Ministry of Science and Technology’ was created by the Government of Pakistan in 1972. Establishment of the Pakistan Foundation was also one of his achievements.

Dr. Usmani remained Senior Adviser for Nuclear Technology in UNO for eleven years. He has published a good number of research papers in quality research journals of international repute. He was conferred with Sitara-i-Imtiaz by the Government of Pakistan. Dr. Usmani departed on June 18th, 1992.