Muhammad Hafeez Qureshi
Encyclopedia
Muhammad Hafeez Qureshi (Urdu
: محمد حفيظ قريشي), Neuclear Physics.
SI, HI
, (born: 28 January 1930 – 11 August 2007), also known as Hafeez Qureshi, was a Pakistani Nuclear Scientist. Qureshi was most known as the Director-General
of the "'Pakistan Automic Energy Comission'" and "Directorate for Technical Development" (DTD) , a secretive institution of Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission that was mandate to to developed the components necessary in the nuclear weapons technology in 1970s, and had also known for his participation, as Director General of DTD, in Kirana-I on 1983, and the Chagai-I
and Chagai-II in May 1998. Qureshi was an expert weapon technology and long-range
thermonuclear missiles. Qureshi, under his college mentor and professor dr. Naeem Ahmad Khan
, gained expertise in the fields of missile technology
, aerodynamics
, and nuclear physics
. A nuclear physics by profession, Qureshi made significant contribution in nuclear physics
and quantum applied mechanics
.
During his career, Qureshi had worked closely with well-known and a prominent Pakistani nuclear engineer Munir Ahmad Khan
in weapon development project
. At Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission
(PAEC), Qureshi, along with Munir Ahmad Khan and dr. Samar Mubarakmand
, developed a thermonuclear weapons capability for Pakistan's Nuclear weapons and the Integrated missile programme. In 1980s, he had closely worked with another fellow nuclear engineer Sultan Bashiruddin Mahmood
in thermonuclear reprocessing
and enrichment program
.
, he partly supported his studies by working as a motor mechanic. In Romny, his schoolmate and friend was future famous Optical physicist
dr. Muhammad Jameel, an optical physicist who was also present at that time when Pakistan tested its nuclear devices in Ras Koh Hills. However, Hafeez Qureshi, went for his MSc and PhD in neuclear Physics fromUnited States of America. Hafeez Qureshi attended Michigan State University
where he studied and got his major in Neuclear Physics M.Sc. and started his PhD from there in 1960. In 1962, he came back to Pakistan on the request of Governemt without the defense of his PhD Thesis in Neuclear Physics Neuclear Physics from the same alma mater. After his master's degree, Hafeez Qureshi came back to Pakistan where he joined Karachi Mechanical Laboratories (KML) and was put in-charge of Mechanical Engineering Department (MED). Shortly, he left KML, and through Muhammad Jameel, Qureshi joined Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) in 1965, where he also specialized in nuclear physics under the supervision of dr. Naeem Ahmad Khan, and become a distinguished professor of mechanical engineering.
(PAEC), which remained his lifelong career and passion. After his undergraduate degree, Qureshi returned to Pakistan, and kept his association with PAEC. In 1962, Abdus Salam had established the PAEC-Lahore Center, Qureshi was given the charge to led the installation of the first experimental source
— a Neutron generator
— for the necessary research to be carried out in the field of nuclear
and particle physics
. After the installation, Qureshi went back to United States to complete his post-graduate degree. While he was part of Salam's team, Qureshi had developed close relationship with Abdus Salam as Salam was impressed by Qureshi's talent to solve complex mathematical problems that arise in the field of nuclear reactor designing and technology in spite of his academic discipline. Salam had PAEC to award scholarship for Qureshi's post-graduate and advanced studies in his academic discipline. Qureshi traveled to United States and returned to Pakistan under the contract signed by the PAEC.
In 1965, Abdus Salam had led the establishment the Pakistan Institute of Nuclear Science and Technology
(PINSTECH). Establishment of Pinstech was a brainchild and dream of Abdus Salam, who initiated this mega project. In 1965, after joining the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission, Qureshi was sent to Pinstech to do the post-graduate research in applied physics. Qureshi was part of Abdus Salam's team that had supervise the construction of nuclear pile —PARR-I— at Pinstech in Nilore.
Salam's team had supervised the criticality
of the reactor in 1965. In 1967, Naeem Ahmad Khan, a nuclear physicist and head of the Nuclear Physics Division (NPD), had formed the influential Nuclear Physics Group (NPG), and invited Qureshi to do research in nuclear physics. The NPG was also joined by nuclear engineer Sultan Mahmood
and nuclear physicist dr. Samar Mubarakmand
. The NPG took initiatives to study the methods of Gas centrifuge
to produce High Enriched Uranium (HEU). The research was led under Mubarakmand as he was the pioneering member of the NPG. While, Naeem Ahmad Khan insued research in Plutonium recycling and reprocess methods
of plutonium. Qureshi had studied and worked in both uranium and plutonium technology, and gained fame in NPD as he was known to adept in the art of solving complex mechanical problems in nuclear reactors and reprocessing methods.
In early of 1971, Naeem Ahmad Khan established the Radiation Isotope Application Division (RIAD) where he served its first director. In December 1971, Qureshi was preceded by his mentor Naeem Ahmad Khan, with a full support provided by Khan to Qureshi. In January 20 of 1972, Qureshi was unable to attend the meeting managed by Abdus Salam, known as Multan Meeting which led the establishment of Pakistan's Nuclear Detterence Programme. Through his mentor Naeem Ahmad Khan, Qureshi was came to know the knowledge of every words discussed in the meeting chaired by Prime minister
Zulfikar Ali Bhutto
. In 1979, Qureshi and Munir Ahmad Khan led the construction of third nuclear pile, PARR-III reactor, near at Nilore. The reactor's designing process was led by Munir Ahmad Khan and Qureshi and Corps of Engineers led the construction of this plutonium separation reactor. In 1980, the reactor west critical under Ishfaq Ahmad and attained its full power in in 1981. The reactor was reprocessed at 50% effiency, and produces the first batch of weapon-grade plutonium in 1982.
. The meeting was attended by Abdus Salam Riazuddin, Ishfaq Ahmad
, and Munir Ahmad Rashid. Qureshi was asked to developed the mechanics and chemical components, tempers, explosive lenses for the weapon. Khan told Qureshi that he join hands on a project of national importance with another expert, dr. Zaman Sheikh, a chemical engineer
from DESTO. A codename, Wah Group Scientist (WGS), was given for the group that was established.
Following the success of surprise nuclear test —codename Smiling Buddha— conducted by India
under the Premiership
of Indira Gandhi
, a meeting was called by the Chairman of Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission Munir Ahmad Khan
to initiate the research on developing the first fission weapon. The meeting was attended by Abdus Salam and Riazuddin as the representatives of Theoretical Physics Group (TPG), Asghar Qadir and Munir Ahmad Rashid of Mathematical Physics Group, Ishfaq Ahmad of Nuclear Physics Group, and Qureshi and dr. Zaman of Wah Group Scientists (WGS). During the meeting, the word Bomb was never used, instead the academic scientists used scientific research rationale. There, the scientists decided to develop an 'implosion' over the 'gun' type fission device citing economy in the use of fissile material.
The Wah Group Scientists (WGS), under Qureshi and Sheikh, was charged with to developed the chemical explosive lenses, tempers, and its related the technologies. The WGS also took initiatives in high precision mechanical and chemical components —how tempers would be developed to produce the efficiency and high precision data — physics calculations — what would its appropriate time reaction when the explosives makes contact with nuclear material, high explosives—what kind of chemical material would be used, and triggering mechanisms —how the weapon would be detonated. The Pinstech had lack of facility to carried out these experiments in a laboratories.
On 25 March 1974, Abdus Salam, along with Munir Ahmad Khan and Riazuddin, visited Pakistan Ordnance Factories
(POF) where Salam held talks with Lieutenant-General Qamar Ali Mirza where military engineers first built the Metallurgical Laboratory
(ML) in Wah Cantt
in 1976. At ML, the WGS developed the complex optical lenses and chemical high-explosive materials and triggering mechanism which the task was completed in 1979.
and 1993, the work on solid fuel missile development was started under Samar Mubarakmad. As DTD's primary member, Qureshi had richly contributed and participated in Shaheen Missile Program
.
Following the series of nuclear tests conducted by India, codename Operation Shakti on May 11th, and the Pokhran-II
, under the Premiership
of Atal Bihari Vajpayee
. On May 28, Prime minister
Nawaz Sharif
ordered Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) to carried out the nuclear tests, codename Chagai-I
, in Ras Koh area of Chagai Hills
. Qureshi, as the part of DTD, supervised the first five tests of nuclear devices, evidently made from HEU. On May 30, PAEC carried out the another test, codename Chagai-II, at Kharan desert
, and it was reported to be a plutonium weapon-grade device.
, and because of the nature of his work, Qureshi's public profile remain hidden until his retirement in PAEC as a senior scientist in 2005. Even after his retirement from PAEC, Hafeez Qureshi continued to serve the country and remained associated with Pakistan's strategic programmes until his death in 2007. In recognition of his contribution to country's nuclear detterence programme, he was awarded the Sitara-e-Imtiaz (Order of Star) by President Of Pakistan, Ishaq Khan in 1992, in a colourful public ceremony held in Presidensy. In 2000, after leading the secretive DTD, he was bestowed with Hilal-e-Imtiaz (Order of Crescent) in March 2000, as part of recognizing the services of scientists in the nuclear detterence programme, by then President of Pakistan, Rafique Tarar.
In May 2007, he had a minor hseart attack and he was took to POF hospital and got cured. In June 2007 he went for Angeo Graphy from AFIC and got a complete checkup and over there this knowledge came that he has a syst on his left lung for the treatment of that syst he went to Shaukat Khanam Hospital lahore. He was operated in last week of June 2007 and syst was removed from his lung and unfortunately he got Phenomynia over there and on 8 August 2007, he suffered a severe cardiac arrest
. And, he was putten on machienes in Shaukat Khanam Hospital. On 11 August 2007 he had another Cardiac arrest and he pronounced death. He was buried in Wah Cantt
where his colleagues and scientists at PAEC paid tribute for his services to the nation. PAEC scientists and engineers who worked under him, called him a "Patriotic and Honest Scientist" who dedicated his life for his country and profession.
Urdu
Urdu is a register of the Hindustani language that is identified with Muslims in South Asia. It belongs to the Indo-European family. Urdu is the national language and lingua franca of Pakistan. It is also widely spoken in some regions of India, where it is one of the 22 scheduled languages and an...
: محمد حفيظ قريشي), Neuclear Physics.
Master of Science
A Master of Science is a postgraduate academic master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The degree is typically studied for in the sciences including the social sciences.-Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay:...
SI, HI
Hilal-i-Imtiaz
The Hilal-i-Imtiaz, English: Crescent of Excellence, Urdu: هلال ا متيا ز , is the second highest civilian award and honor given to both civilians and military officers of the State of Pakistan|Pakistan armed forces by the Government of Pakistan...
, (born: 28 January 1930 – 11 August 2007), also known as Hafeez Qureshi, was a Pakistani Nuclear Scientist. Qureshi was most known as the Director-General
Director-general
The term director-general is a title given the highest executive officer within a governmental, statutory, NGO, third sector or not-for-profit institution.-European Union:...
of the "'Pakistan Automic Energy Comission'" and "Directorate for Technical Development" (DTD) , a secretive institution of Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission that was mandate to to developed the components necessary in the nuclear weapons technology in 1970s, and had also known for his participation, as Director General of DTD, in Kirana-I on 1983, and the Chagai-I
Chagai-I
The Chagai-I was a codename referring to the five underground nuclear tests conducted by Pakistan at 15:15hrs in 28th May of 1998. It was named Chagai-I, as the tests were conducted in the Chagai District...
and Chagai-II in May 1998. Qureshi was an expert weapon technology and long-range
Intermediate-range ballistic missile
An intermediate-range ballistic missile is a ballistic missile with a range of 3,000–5,500 km , between a medium-range ballistic missile and an intercontinental ballistic missile...
thermonuclear missiles. Qureshi, under his college mentor and professor dr. Naeem Ahmad Khan
Naeem Ahmad Khan
Naeem Ahmad Khan , is a Pakistani nuclear physicist and meteorologist, known for his work to the fields of Solid-state nuclear track detector and Solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance...
, gained expertise in the fields of missile technology
Missile
Though a missile may be any thrown or launched object, it colloquially almost always refers to a self-propelled guided weapon system.-Etymology:The word missile comes from the Latin verb mittere, meaning "to send"...
, aerodynamics
Aerodynamics
Aerodynamics is a branch of dynamics concerned with studying the motion of air, particularly when it interacts with a moving object. Aerodynamics is a subfield of fluid dynamics and gas dynamics, with much theory shared between them. Aerodynamics is often used synonymously with gas dynamics, with...
, and nuclear physics
Nuclear physics
Nuclear physics is the field of physics that studies the building blocks and interactions of atomic nuclei. The most commonly known applications of nuclear physics are nuclear power generation and nuclear weapons technology, but the research has provided application in many fields, including those...
. A nuclear physics by profession, Qureshi made significant contribution in nuclear physics
Nuclear physics
Nuclear physics is the field of physics that studies the building blocks and interactions of atomic nuclei. The most commonly known applications of nuclear physics are nuclear power generation and nuclear weapons technology, but the research has provided application in many fields, including those...
and quantum applied mechanics
Applied mechanics
Applied mechanics is a branch of the physical sciences and the practical application of mechanics. Applied mechanics examines the response of bodies or systems of bodies to external forces...
.
During his career, Qureshi had worked closely with well-known and a prominent Pakistani nuclear engineer Munir Ahmad Khan
Munir Ahmad Khan
Munir Ahmad Khan , HI, was a Pakistani nuclear engineer and a scientist who served as the Chairman of the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission from 1972 to 1991...
in weapon development project
Project-706
Project-706, also known as Project-726 or as the Kahuta Project, was a science effort codename of a project conducted during the Cold War and Russo-Afghan War whose objective was to develop Pakistan' first atomic weapon. The mainstream goal of the project was the development of an atomic bomb using...
. At Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission
Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission
The Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission, , is an administrative governmental and autonomous science and technology governmental department of Pakistan, responsible for development of nuclear energy and development of nuclear power sector in Pakistan...
(PAEC), Qureshi, along with Munir Ahmad Khan and dr. Samar Mubarakmand
Samar Mubarakmand
Samar Mubarakmand , , is a Pakistani nuclear physicist, who served as the founding chairman of National Engineering and Scientific Commission from 2001 till 2007. Samar Mubarak-Mand launched the Missile Integration Programme in 1987 which was successfully completed in 2005...
, developed a thermonuclear weapons capability for Pakistan's Nuclear weapons and the Integrated missile programme. In 1980s, he had closely worked with another fellow nuclear engineer Sultan Bashiruddin Mahmood
Sultan Bashiruddin Mahmood
Sultan Bashiruddin Mahmood, otherwise written as, Sultan Bashir-ud-Din Mehmood), and Manchester, United Kingdom. A controversial figure, Bashiruddin Mahmood is widely popular in Pakistan's scientific and religious circles for his scientific interpretation and its relation to Quran...
in thermonuclear reprocessing
Nuclear reprocessing
Nuclear reprocessing technology was developed to chemically separate and recover fissionable plutonium from irradiated nuclear fuel. Reprocessing serves multiple purposes, whose relative importance has changed over time. Originally reprocessing was used solely to extract plutonium for producing...
and enrichment program
Project-706
Project-706, also known as Project-726 or as the Kahuta Project, was a science effort codename of a project conducted during the Cold War and Russo-Afghan War whose objective was to develop Pakistan' first atomic weapon. The mainstream goal of the project was the development of an atomic bomb using...
.
Early life and Education
Muhammad Hafeez Qureshi was born in Kapoorthala, British India to an Urdu speaking family. In 1956, Qureshi attended Karachi University where he did MSc PhysicsPhysics
Physics is a natural science that involves the study of matter and its motion through spacetime, along with related concepts such as energy and force. More broadly, it is the general analysis of nature, conducted in order to understand how the universe behaves.Physics is one of the oldest academic...
, he partly supported his studies by working as a motor mechanic. In Romny, his schoolmate and friend was future famous Optical physicist
Optical physics
Optical physics, or optical science, is a subfield of atomic, molecular, and optical physics. It is the study of the generation of electromagnetic radiation, the properties of that radiation, and the interaction of that radiation with matter, especially its manipulation and control...
dr. Muhammad Jameel, an optical physicist who was also present at that time when Pakistan tested its nuclear devices in Ras Koh Hills. However, Hafeez Qureshi, went for his MSc and PhD in neuclear Physics fromUnited States of America. Hafeez Qureshi attended Michigan State University
Michigan State University
Michigan State University is a public research university in East Lansing, Michigan, USA. Founded in 1855, it was the pioneer land-grant institution and served as a model for future land-grant colleges in the United States under the 1862 Morrill Act.MSU pioneered the studies of packaging,...
where he studied and got his major in Neuclear Physics M.Sc. and started his PhD from there in 1960. In 1962, he came back to Pakistan on the request of Governemt without the defense of his PhD Thesis in Neuclear Physics Neuclear Physics from the same alma mater. After his master's degree, Hafeez Qureshi came back to Pakistan where he joined Karachi Mechanical Laboratories (KML) and was put in-charge of Mechanical Engineering Department (MED). Shortly, he left KML, and through Muhammad Jameel, Qureshi joined Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) in 1965, where he also specialized in nuclear physics under the supervision of dr. Naeem Ahmad Khan, and become a distinguished professor of mechanical engineering.
Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission
In 1964, Qureshi had joined the Karachi Mechanical Laboratories of the fledgling Pakistan Atomic Energy CommissionPakistan Atomic Energy Commission
The Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission, , is an administrative governmental and autonomous science and technology governmental department of Pakistan, responsible for development of nuclear energy and development of nuclear power sector in Pakistan...
(PAEC), which remained his lifelong career and passion. After his undergraduate degree, Qureshi returned to Pakistan, and kept his association with PAEC. In 1962, Abdus Salam had established the PAEC-Lahore Center, Qureshi was given the charge to led the installation of the first experimental source
Neutron source
A Neutron source is a device that emits neutrons. There is a wide variety of different sources, ranging from hand-held radioactive sources to neutron research facilities operating research reactors and spallation sources...
— a Neutron generator
Neutron generator
Neutron generators are neutron source devices which contain compact linear accelerators and that produce neutrons by fusing isotopes of hydrogen together. The fusion reactions take place in these devices by accelerating either deuterium, tritium, or a mixture of these two isotopes into a metal...
— for the necessary research to be carried out in the field of nuclear
Nuclear physics
Nuclear physics is the field of physics that studies the building blocks and interactions of atomic nuclei. The most commonly known applications of nuclear physics are nuclear power generation and nuclear weapons technology, but the research has provided application in many fields, including those...
and particle physics
Particle physics
Particle physics is a branch of physics that studies the existence and interactions of particles that are the constituents of what is usually referred to as matter or radiation. In current understanding, particles are excitations of quantum fields and interact following their dynamics...
. After the installation, Qureshi went back to United States to complete his post-graduate degree. While he was part of Salam's team, Qureshi had developed close relationship with Abdus Salam as Salam was impressed by Qureshi's talent to solve complex mathematical problems that arise in the field of nuclear reactor designing and technology in spite of his academic discipline. Salam had PAEC to award scholarship for Qureshi's post-graduate and advanced studies in his academic discipline. Qureshi traveled to United States and returned to Pakistan under the contract signed by the PAEC.
In 1965, Abdus Salam had led the establishment the Pakistan Institute of Nuclear Science and Technology
Pakistan Institute of Nuclear Science and Technology
The Pakistan Institute of Nuclear Science and Technology, or commonly known as "PINSTECH", is a multi-program science and technology national research institute managed by the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission. The PINSTECH offers a post-graduate and post-doctoral research in the field of nuclear...
(PINSTECH). Establishment of Pinstech was a brainchild and dream of Abdus Salam, who initiated this mega project. In 1965, after joining the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission, Qureshi was sent to Pinstech to do the post-graduate research in applied physics. Qureshi was part of Abdus Salam's team that had supervise the construction of nuclear pile —PARR-I— at Pinstech in Nilore.
Salam's team had supervised the criticality
Subcritical reactor
A subcritical reactor is a nuclear fission reactor that produces fission without achieving criticality. Instead of a sustaining chain reaction, a subcritical reactor uses additional neutrons from an outside source...
of the reactor in 1965. In 1967, Naeem Ahmad Khan, a nuclear physicist and head of the Nuclear Physics Division (NPD), had formed the influential Nuclear Physics Group (NPG), and invited Qureshi to do research in nuclear physics. The NPG was also joined by nuclear engineer Sultan Mahmood
Sultan Bashiruddin Mahmood
Sultan Bashiruddin Mahmood, otherwise written as, Sultan Bashir-ud-Din Mehmood), and Manchester, United Kingdom. A controversial figure, Bashiruddin Mahmood is widely popular in Pakistan's scientific and religious circles for his scientific interpretation and its relation to Quran...
and nuclear physicist dr. Samar Mubarakmand
Samar Mubarakmand
Samar Mubarakmand , , is a Pakistani nuclear physicist, who served as the founding chairman of National Engineering and Scientific Commission from 2001 till 2007. Samar Mubarak-Mand launched the Missile Integration Programme in 1987 which was successfully completed in 2005...
. The NPG took initiatives to study the methods of Gas centrifuge
Gas centrifuge
A gas centrifuge is a device that performs isotope separation of gases. A centrifuge relies on the principles of centripetal force accelerating molecules so that particles of different masses are physically separated in a gradient along the radius of a rotating container.A prominent use of gas...
to produce High Enriched Uranium (HEU). The research was led under Mubarakmand as he was the pioneering member of the NPG. While, Naeem Ahmad Khan insued research in Plutonium recycling and reprocess methods
Nuclear reprocessing
Nuclear reprocessing technology was developed to chemically separate and recover fissionable plutonium from irradiated nuclear fuel. Reprocessing serves multiple purposes, whose relative importance has changed over time. Originally reprocessing was used solely to extract plutonium for producing...
of plutonium. Qureshi had studied and worked in both uranium and plutonium technology, and gained fame in NPD as he was known to adept in the art of solving complex mechanical problems in nuclear reactors and reprocessing methods.
In early of 1971, Naeem Ahmad Khan established the Radiation Isotope Application Division (RIAD) where he served its first director. In December 1971, Qureshi was preceded by his mentor Naeem Ahmad Khan, with a full support provided by Khan to Qureshi. In January 20 of 1972, Qureshi was unable to attend the meeting managed by Abdus Salam, known as Multan Meeting which led the establishment of Pakistan's Nuclear Detterence Programme. Through his mentor Naeem Ahmad Khan, Qureshi was came to know the knowledge of every words discussed in the meeting chaired by Prime minister
Prime Minister of Pakistan
The Prime Minister of Pakistan , is the Head of Government of Pakistan who is designated to exercise as the country's Chief Executive. By the Constitution of Pakistan, Pakistan has the parliamentary democratic system of government...
Zulfikar Ali Bhutto
Zulfikar Ali Bhutto
Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was 9th Prime Minister of Pakistan from 1973 to 1977, and prior to that, 4th President of Pakistan from 1971 to 1973. Bhutto was the founder of the Pakistan Peoples Party — the largest and most influential political party in Pakistan— and served as its chairman until his...
. In 1979, Qureshi and Munir Ahmad Khan led the construction of third nuclear pile, PARR-III reactor, near at Nilore. The reactor's designing process was led by Munir Ahmad Khan and Qureshi and Corps of Engineers led the construction of this plutonium separation reactor. In 1980, the reactor west critical under Ishfaq Ahmad and attained its full power in in 1981. The reactor was reprocessed at 50% effiency, and produces the first batch of weapon-grade plutonium in 1982.
Wah Group Scientists
In March 1974, Qureshi was summoned by Chairman of the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission Munir Ahmad KhanMunir Ahmad Khan
Munir Ahmad Khan , HI, was a Pakistani nuclear engineer and a scientist who served as the Chairman of the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission from 1972 to 1991...
. The meeting was attended by Abdus Salam Riazuddin, Ishfaq Ahmad
Ishfaq Ahmad
Ishfaq Ahmad , D.Sc., Minister of State, SI, HI, NI, FPAS, is a Pakistani nuclear physicist, and well-known educationist and academic from Pakistan...
, and Munir Ahmad Rashid. Qureshi was asked to developed the mechanics and chemical components, tempers, explosive lenses for the weapon. Khan told Qureshi that he join hands on a project of national importance with another expert, dr. Zaman Sheikh, a chemical engineer
Chemical engineer
In the field of engineering, a chemical engineer is the profession in which one works principally in the chemical industry to convert basic raw materials into a variety of products, and deals with the design and operation of plants and equipment to perform such work...
from DESTO. A codename, Wah Group Scientist (WGS), was given for the group that was established.
Following the success of surprise nuclear test —codename Smiling Buddha— conducted by India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
under the Premiership
Prime Minister of India
The Prime Minister of India , as addressed to in the Constitution of India — Prime Minister for the Union, is the chief of government, head of the Council of Ministers and the leader of the majority party in parliament...
of Indira Gandhi
Indira Gandhi
Indira Priyadarshini Gandhara was an Indian politician who served as the third Prime Minister of India for three consecutive terms and a fourth term . She was assassinated by Sikh extremists...
, a meeting was called by the Chairman of Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission Munir Ahmad Khan
Munir Ahmad Khan
Munir Ahmad Khan , HI, was a Pakistani nuclear engineer and a scientist who served as the Chairman of the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission from 1972 to 1991...
to initiate the research on developing the first fission weapon. The meeting was attended by Abdus Salam and Riazuddin as the representatives of Theoretical Physics Group (TPG), Asghar Qadir and Munir Ahmad Rashid of Mathematical Physics Group, Ishfaq Ahmad of Nuclear Physics Group, and Qureshi and dr. Zaman of Wah Group Scientists (WGS). During the meeting, the word Bomb was never used, instead the academic scientists used scientific research rationale. There, the scientists decided to develop an 'implosion' over the 'gun' type fission device citing economy in the use of fissile material.
The Wah Group Scientists (WGS), under Qureshi and Sheikh, was charged with to developed the chemical explosive lenses, tempers, and its related the technologies. The WGS also took initiatives in high precision mechanical and chemical components —how tempers would be developed to produce the efficiency and high precision data — physics calculations — what would its appropriate time reaction when the explosives makes contact with nuclear material, high explosives—what kind of chemical material would be used, and triggering mechanisms —how the weapon would be detonated. The Pinstech had lack of facility to carried out these experiments in a laboratories.
On 25 March 1974, Abdus Salam, along with Munir Ahmad Khan and Riazuddin, visited Pakistan Ordnance Factories
Pakistan Ordnance Factories
Pakistan Ordnance Factories was founded in 1951 with the primary objective of producing arms and ammunition for the armed forces of Pakistan...
(POF) where Salam held talks with Lieutenant-General Qamar Ali Mirza where military engineers first built the Metallurgical Laboratory
Metallurgical Laboratory
The Metallurgical Laboratory or "Met Lab" at the University of Chicago was part of the World War II–era Manhattan Project, created by the United States to develop an atomic bomb...
(ML) in Wah Cantt
Wah Cantt
Wah Cantonment is a military city located in the Punjab province of Pakistan, to the north west of Rawalpindi/Islamabad.-History:...
in 1976. At ML, the WGS developed the complex optical lenses and chemical high-explosive materials and triggering mechanism which the task was completed in 1979.
Directorate for Technical Development (DTD)
On March 11, 1983, Qureshi and Zaman had eye-witnessed the successful cold-fission test, codename Kirana-I, near at the Kirana Hills. Both engineers were charged with another task to form, this division known as Directorate for Technical Development (DTD). The DTD examined the same problems as previous WGS, this time with improvising the techniques every time PAEC carried the tests. In 1990s, the DTD had carried out witnessed the tests of 24 different improved designs, developed by Theoretical Physics Group (TPG). The Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission had followed a very strict policy to developed the such programmes critical to national security under extreme security and as others, Qureshi gained national fame in May 1998. In 1987, the Integrated Missile Research and Development Programme was started by MoDMinistry of Defence (Pakistan)
The Ministry of Defence , is a federal government ministry tasked with coordinating and supervising all major government agencies and federal departments of the government relating directly to National security and the Pakistan Defense Forces...
and 1993, the work on solid fuel missile development was started under Samar Mubarakmad. As DTD's primary member, Qureshi had richly contributed and participated in Shaheen Missile Program
Shaheen-I
The Shaheen missile series, named after a species of falcon found in the mountains of Pakistan, was developed by NESCOM's National Defence Complex of Pakistan...
.
Following the series of nuclear tests conducted by India, codename Operation Shakti on May 11th, and the Pokhran-II
Pokhran-II
Pokharan-II refers to test explosions of five nuclear devices, three on 11 May and two on 13 May 1998, conducted by India at the Pokhran test range. These nuclear tests resulted in a variety of sanctions against India by a number of major states....
, under the Premiership
Premiership of Atal Bihari Vajpayee
Atal Bihari Vajpayee was twice premier of India, first from 16 May to 1 June 1996, and then from 19 March 1998 to 22 May 2004. A member of the Bharatiya Janata Party , Vaypayee served as the eleventh Prime Minister of India...
of Atal Bihari Vajpayee
Atal Bihari Vajpayee
Atal Bihari Vajpayee is an Indian statesman who served as the tenth Prime Minister of India three times – first for a brief term of 13 days in 1996, and then for two terms from 1998 to 2004. After his first brief period as Prime Minister in 1996, Vajpayee headed a coalition government from...
. On May 28, Prime minister
Prime Minister of Pakistan
The Prime Minister of Pakistan , is the Head of Government of Pakistan who is designated to exercise as the country's Chief Executive. By the Constitution of Pakistan, Pakistan has the parliamentary democratic system of government...
Nawaz Sharif
Nawaz Sharif
Mian Mohammad Nawaz Sharif is a Pakistani conservative politician and steel magnate who served as 12th Prime Minister of Pakistan in two non-consecutive terms from November 1990 to July 1993, and from February 1997 to October 12, 1999...
ordered Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) to carried out the nuclear tests, codename Chagai-I
Chagai-I
The Chagai-I was a codename referring to the five underground nuclear tests conducted by Pakistan at 15:15hrs in 28th May of 1998. It was named Chagai-I, as the tests were conducted in the Chagai District...
, in Ras Koh area of Chagai Hills
Chagai Hills
The Chagai Hills is a range of granite hills in the Chagai District in Pakistan's Balochistan province.-Location:The Chagai Hills lie in a desert area in the northernmost part of Chagai District north of Pakistan's Ras Koh Hills and south of Afghanistan's Helmand and Nimruz provinces.- Topography...
. Qureshi, as the part of DTD, supervised the first five tests of nuclear devices, evidently made from HEU. On May 30, PAEC carried out the another test, codename Chagai-II, at Kharan desert
Kharan Desert
The Kharan Desert is a sand desert situated in the Balochistan province of Pakistan.Kharan desert is Pakistan's second nuclear test site, and the second nuclear test — Codename Chagai-II — was conducted and supervised by the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission in May 30, 1998.The desert is...
, and it was reported to be a plutonium weapon-grade device.
Legacy
Muhammad Hafeez Qureshi had performed in most secretive and confidential programme for the Government of PakistanGovernment of Pakistan
The Government of Pakistan is a federal parliamentary system, with an indirectly-elected President as the Head of State and Commander in Chief of the Pakistani Armed Forces, and an indirectly-elected Prime Minister as the Head of Government. The President’s appointment and term are...
, and because of the nature of his work, Qureshi's public profile remain hidden until his retirement in PAEC as a senior scientist in 2005. Even after his retirement from PAEC, Hafeez Qureshi continued to serve the country and remained associated with Pakistan's strategic programmes until his death in 2007. In recognition of his contribution to country's nuclear detterence programme, he was awarded the Sitara-e-Imtiaz (Order of Star) by President Of Pakistan, Ishaq Khan in 1992, in a colourful public ceremony held in Presidensy. In 2000, after leading the secretive DTD, he was bestowed with Hilal-e-Imtiaz (Order of Crescent) in March 2000, as part of recognizing the services of scientists in the nuclear detterence programme, by then President of Pakistan, Rafique Tarar.
In May 2007, he had a minor hseart attack and he was took to POF hospital and got cured. In June 2007 he went for Angeo Graphy from AFIC and got a complete checkup and over there this knowledge came that he has a syst on his left lung for the treatment of that syst he went to Shaukat Khanam Hospital lahore. He was operated in last week of June 2007 and syst was removed from his lung and unfortunately he got Phenomynia over there and on 8 August 2007, he suffered a severe cardiac arrest
Cardiac arrest
Cardiac arrest, is the cessation of normal circulation of the blood due to failure of the heart to contract effectively...
. And, he was putten on machienes in Shaukat Khanam Hospital. On 11 August 2007 he had another Cardiac arrest and he pronounced death. He was buried in Wah Cantt
Wah Cantt
Wah Cantonment is a military city located in the Punjab province of Pakistan, to the north west of Rawalpindi/Islamabad.-History:...
where his colleagues and scientists at PAEC paid tribute for his services to the nation. PAEC scientists and engineers who worked under him, called him a "Patriotic and Honest Scientist" who dedicated his life for his country and profession.
External links
- http://www.pakdef.info/nuclear&missile/timeline2.html
- http://www.pakistanpaedia.com/landmarks/RasKoh/Youm-e-Takbeer.htm
- http://www.defencejournal.com/2000/june/chagai.htm
- http://www.pakstop.com/pmforums/930210-post19.html
- http://www.pakdef.info/forum/showthread.php?t=8063&goto=nextnewest
- http://www.pakistanlink.com/Opinion/2007/Aug07/24/08.HTM