Abdus Salam School of Mathematical Sciences

The idea behind the Abdus Salam School of Mathematical Sciences (ASSMS) is to create a
world-class doctoral research institute in mathematics, but rooted in a developing country
like Pakistan. The goal is to provide a pool of highly trained indigenous scientists to
universities of Pakistan that would be an asset to its future economic and technological
development, a crucial factor for the much desired peace in the area.

It is a proud feature of its short history that since its inception in late 2003 until now, with 90
PhD graduates to its name, the ASSMS has already more than doubled the existing tally of
university math faculty at the doctoral level in Pakistan. The ASSMS takes seriously its
responsibility of disseminating to the Pakistani academic community the importance of a rich
scientific and mathematical culture. For this task, a team of highly trained mathematicians
specializing in a broad range of subjects in mathematics and theoretical physics from Europe,
Britain and the US, many of whom are authorities in their fields, are invited as either visiting
or regular faculty.

In early 2011, the ASSMS was honored by being named one of three emerging regional
centers of excellence by the European Mathematical Society. Besides its world-class versatile
PhD program, the efforts of ASSMS have been directed at the broader goals of faculty
training, popularizing math at school and college levels and serving as the quintessential
center for modern research in Pakistan.

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BASIC INFORMATION:
 Name of the Institute / Centre
Abdus Salam School of Mathematical Sciences
68-B, New Muslim Town Lahore 54600, Pakistan
Phone: +92-42-9923 1189; Fax: +92-42-3586 4946
E-mail: choudary@cwu.edu, info@sms.edu.pk
Website: http://www.sms.edu.pk

 Year of Establishment
2003

 Sponsored by
Higher Education Commission (HEC), Pakistan & UNESCO, ICTP, Centre
International de Mathématiques Pures et Appliquées (CIMPA), International
Mathematical Union (IMU), European Mathematical Society (EMS) and Provincial
Government of the Punjab.

1. AIM AND OBJECTIVE:

a. Our basic objective is to strengthen the education and research in the

mathematical sciences in Pakistan. This is achieved through establishing a large
and strong PhD program, organizing well thought Workshops, Schools, Seminars,
Colloquia, Conferences and Training Courses for University/College faculty, PhD
scholars and researchers.

b. Our vision :
To provide the Nation of Pakistan with the scientific base, innovation, and
workforce it needs to compete with the world in 21st century for a prosperous
future.

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 c. Our mission:
Our mission is to provide a platform to talented youth of the nation where they can
interact with internationally leading scientists, to acquire first hand knowledge and
explore new horizons of useful research.
2. ACHIEVEMENTS:
 Year Wise Number of Students’ Registrations & Awards:
YEAR ENROLMENT OUTPUT
M.A/ M. PH.D TOTAL M.A/ M. PH.D TOTAL
MSC PHIL MSC PHIL
2003-04 13 13
2004-05 20 20
2005-06 20 20
2006-07 19 19
2007-08 22 22 15 15
2008-09 18 18 20 20
2009-10 18 18 11 11
2010-11 Nil Nil 17 17
2011-12 19 19 15 15
2012-13 19 19 12 12
&
10 more
expected
till the
Sept.
2013

3. THE SCHOOL
The building consist of a Conference hall with a seating capacity of 300 persons, a
committee room for a meeting of 80-90 persons, 10 class rooms and 35 research offices
for professors and post doctoral fellows. The School has a library with 5000 books and
a number of journals, available in hard copy (76 journals). It is a small but rather
effective library. The library also provides a study place for about 100 graduate
students. The School also has a nice size garden in the center of the building and it is a
very popular place for faculty and student’s discussions and even seminars during
autumn, winter and spring. Internet access is available throughout the premises of the
School. The school also has 2 computer labs with seating capacity of 50.

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 Mathematics has, for quite long time, been a neglected area in Pakistan. In 2001,
Pakistani Government realized for the first time, the very serious shortage of well
prepared mathematicians in Pakistan and also the lack of a good school of
mathematics in the country. Finally, the Punjab Government established a school of
mathematical sciences under the aegis of Government College University Lahore to
serve as a Centre of Excellence for Advanced Studies and Research in Mathematics.

Nobel Laureate, Abdus Salam graduated from Government College Lahore and he
then taught mathematics here. In his honor, the School got its name Abdus Salam
School of Mathematical Sciences.

4. EDUCATION PROGRAMS
ASSMS is an educational and training institution. At the same time it also serves as
centre for advanced studies and research in Pakistan and in the region. The main
programs of ASSMS are:

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 PhD programs in several main areas of mathematical sciences
 Training programs for young university/college faculty
 Schools, workshop and intensive courses for the professional enhancement of
young researchers throughout Pakistan, including very remote areas of the
country.
 Organize events to promote and popularize mathematics in Pakistani schools.

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5. STUDENTS SELECTION FOR PH.D PROGRAM
A first screening is carried out through a written test, which generally takes place in
March or early April. The written test date is advertised in the major newspapers of
Pakistan as well as on several websites such as the website of Higher Education
Commission (HEC) Pakistan, a website which is most frequently visited by the young
science graduates in Pakistan. The admission process and dates are also advertised on
the website of the ASSMS itself. During the past three years, about 350 - 450 students
participated each year, in the written test, and about 50 students were selected for
interview with an international board of examiners. On the basis of these interviews 17
– 23 students are admitted into the PhD program. Students are also required to
achieve a certain level of performance in the international subject GRE.

6. EDUCATION SYSTEM
Through our selection process and also due to attractive stipends (Pakistani
standards), we succeed to attract the very best students (from universities all over
Pakistan) to our PhD program in mathematics. However, due to a general weakness in
the university education system in Pakistan, even the best students have poor
background in several areas of basic university mathematics. To strengthen the
foundations of our selected students, ASSMS requires an intensive 2 years course
work from all the students admitted to its PhD program. This 2 years course work is
comparable with M.S. course work abroad. The first year is dedicated to the basic
university mathematics courses, which are taught by European mathematicians.
During the second year, students take more advanced and optional courses in diverse
areas of mathematics. At the end of their second year, students choose their research
area and get associated with one of the research groups at ASSMS.

A PhD student is allowed to write his PhD thesis only if at least one of his/her
research papers is accepted for publication in a reputed international journal.
Generally, before submitting the PhD Thesis a student has 3 – 4 (or more) papers
accepted for publication in ISI journals.

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7. LIST OF PREPARATORY COURSES
Code Course Credit Hour
MATH – 7101 Linear Algebra 4
MATH – 7102 Algebra I 4
MATH – 7103 Algebra II 4
MATH – 7104 Geometry I 4
MATH – 7105 Geometry II 4
MATH – 7106 Real Analysis I 4
MATH – 7107 Real Analysis II 4
MATH – 7108 Complex Analysis 4
MATH – 7109 Number Theory 3
MATH – 7110 Differential Equations 4
 MAIN LIST OF COURSES
Code Course Credit Hour
MATH – 8101 Homological Algebra 4
MATH – 8102 Partial Differential Equations 4
MATH – 8103 Probability Theory 4
MATH – 8104 Mathematical Aspects of Theoretical Physics 3
MATH – 8105 Numerical Analysis I 3
MATH – 8106 Functional Analysis 4
MATH – 8107 Commutative Algebra I 3
MATH – 8108 Computational Algebra I 3
MATH – 8109 Measure Theory 3
MATH – 8110 Multivariable Complex Analysis 3
MATH – 8111 Commutative Algebra II 3
MATH – 8112 Computational Algebra II 3

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 Code Course Credit Hour
MATH – 8113 Calculus of Variations 2
MATH – 8114 Algebraic System Theory 4
MATH – 8115 Lie Groups and Algebras 4
MATH – 8116 Riemann Surfaces 2
MATH – 8117 Combinatorics 4
MATH – 8118 Graph Theory 4
MATH – 8119 Stochastic Processes 4
MATH – 8120 Algebraic Number Theory 3
MATH – 8121 Algebraic Topology 4
MATH – 8122 Algebraic Geometry 3
MATH – 8123 Algebraic Curves 3
MATH – 8124 Application of Group Theory to Physics 3
MATH – 8125 Chaotic Dynamical Systems 3
MATH – 8126 Classes of Rings and Modules 3
MATH – 8127 Convex Analysis & Nonlinear Optimization 3
MATH – 8128 Differential Geometry 3
MATH – 8129 Differential Topology 4
MATH – 8130 Field & Galois Theory 3
MATH – 8131 Financial Mathematics 4
MATH – 8132 Fluid Mechanics 4
MATH – 8133 Introduction to Valuation Theory 3
MATH – 8134 Non-Linear Dynamics & Control Theory 3
MATH – 8135 Analytic Number Theory and Elliptic Curve 3
MATH – 8136 Convex Sets 2
MATH – 8137 Differential Inclusions and Fuzzy Differential 4
Equations
MATH – 8138 Topics in Field Theory 3
MATH – 8139 Interacting Stochastic Systems 3
MATH – 8140 Graph Labelings 3
MATH – 8141 Interpolation Theory and Applications 4
MATH – 8142 Special Topics in Analysis 3
MATH – 8143 Statistical Models & Simulation I 3
MATH – 8144 Statistical Models & Simulation II 3
MATH – 8145 Distribution Theory 3
MATH – 8146 Numerical Analysis II 2
MATH – 8147 Approximation Theory in Real and Complex 4
Domain
MATH – 8148 Combinatorial Geometry 3
MATH – 8149 Absolute Summing Operators (special course) 3
MATH – 8150 Advanced Quantum Statistical Mechanics 3
MATH – 8151 Special Topics in Complex Analysis 4
MATH – 8152 Gorenstein Rings 3
MATH – 8153 Convex Analysis 3
MATH – 8154 Local Cohomology 3
MATH – 8155 Multiplicative Ideal Theory 3
MATH – 8156 Applied Control Theory 3
MATH – 8157 Fuzzy Sets & Fuzzy Differential Equations 2

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 Code Course Credit Hour
MATH – 8158 Dynamical Systems 3
MATH – 8159 Functional Differential Equations 4
MATH – 8160 Complex Analysis & Potential Theory 4
MATH – 8161 Arithmetical Rings 4
MATH – 8162 Differential Complex Geometry 3
MATH – 8163 Introduction to Manifolds 3
MATH – 8164 Serre’s Problem on Projective Modules 3
MATH – 8165 Fuzzy Analysis – Simple Calculus 3
MATH – 8166 Projective Modules and General Linear Group 3
MATH – 8167 Cryptography 3
MATH – 8168 Several Complex Variables 3
MATH – 8169 Fourier Series 3
MATH – 8170 Calculus on Manifolds 3
MATH – 8171 Finite Fields & Selected Topics 2
MATH – 8172 Distribution of Prime Numbers 2
MATH – 8173 Introduction to Symplectic Geometry 3
MATH – 8174 Factorization in Integral Domains 3
MATH – 8175 Selected Topics in Combinatorics 2
MATH - 8176 Hyperbolic Geometry of polyhedra and 2
manifolds
MATH - 8177 Operator Theory 3
MATH – 8178 Integral Equations 3

Although the ASSMS’s PhD program is designed to generate competent scholars for
the workforce of the higher educational system of Pakistan, it is concurrently working
on promoting mathematics among the Pakistani youth (up to high school) at a more
grass root level.

ASSMS has started training camps for younger students. These students were
prepared to form the first team of Pakistanis participating in the International
Mathematical Olympiad (IMO) in 2005. Within a short span of two years, the Pakistani
team went on to win the first medal at IMO 2007. ASSMS also started National
Mathematics Olympiad (NMO). The school has hired Professors that have previously
been coaches for international teams in Canada and Romania.

These training Camps now prepare Pakistan’s most brilliant students for international
competition. To make an impact on the more average student, ASSMS initiated an
annual “world competition” called Kangaroos of Mathematics. This competition was
then handed over to Pakistan Kangaroo Commission. Last year about 42 thousand
students participated, and the Commission distributed medals and cash prizes to the
winning students and teachers as a recognition of their efforts for the development of
Mathematics.

Another important step taken by ASSMS is the enhancement training of existing

faculty of mathematics at GC University Lahore and other Universities and Degree

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Colleges. A series of intensive courses in core areas of mathematics is organized to
train the national faculty. These courses addressed the areas that face serious shortage
of Pakistani experts. The quality and effectiveness of the program is guaranteed by an
exam at the end of the course and successful candidates receive the Diploma in
Educational Excellence and a cash reward.

 TRAINING CAMPS & MATH CIRCLE: Every year, 15 - 20 training camps are
organized for the high school students to prepare them for International
Mathematical Olympiad.

Professor Barbu Berceanu is the main coach for training the Pakistani team. Several
Pakistani mathematicians also take part in training the team. The young Pakistanis
have won bronze medals in year 2007, 2009, 2011 and silver medal in year 2012 at IMO
held in Vietnam, Germany and Argentina respectively. In 2008, the IMO took place in

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 Spain. Regrettably, the Pakistani children could not participate in this Olympiad due
to the refusal of Spanish Embassy in Pakistan to issue visas to the Pakistani children.

For the selection of the IMO team, we start with a number of national level
mathematics contests all over the country. Several thousand students from grade 9 –
12 participate in these math competitions. In a first screening, we select the top 100
students from the whole country. These 100 students are then invited to ASSMS for 7 –
10 days for the first training camp. Since the selected students are from different cities
of Pakistan (including remote areas), ASSMS provides them boarding and lodging free
of charge. At the end of this first Training Camp about 50 students are selected for
further training. Next we choose top 25 and then top 12-15. These 12-15 students are
invited to ASSMS for a number of Training Camps. The first Training Camp starts in
September and finally a team of 6 is selected every year in May to represent Pakistan
at IMO, which generally takes place in July each year.

The young students from Pakistani schools / colleges can contact the organizers at
imo@sms.edu.pk; or Phone: +92–42–99231189.

8. POST DOCTORAL FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM

Taking advantage of the frequent visits of well-established foreign mathematician,
ASSMS also offers several post doctoral fellowships every year. These fellowships are
generally given to the young researchers from different countries in the region.
Sometimes upon the recommendation of the foreign visiting Professor, post doctoral
fellowships are also given to young researchers from academically developed
countries. So for 28 post doctoral positions for period of 6 months to 2 years have been
granted to young researchers from Indonesia, Nepal, Uzbekistan, Georgia, Romania,
Italy and Russia.

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9. PUBLICATION OF LECTURE NOTES
The School has now started a program to publish Lecture Notes of the lectures
delivered by famous mathematicians. In 2009-2010, the School published Lecture
Notes of the lectures delivered by A. A. Kirillov, J. Bernstein, V. I. Arnold and P.
Grozman. These lecture notes turned out to be quite useful for the PhD students and
young researchers in Pakistan and in the region.

10. RESEARCH GROUPS

 GEOMETRY (Faculty including regular and visiting)

 Alexander Dimca
 Barbu Berceanu
 Oleg Mushkarov
 Johann Davidov
 Hong Van Le
 Catalin Liviu Gherghe
 Victor Vuletescu

This research group presently has 8 PhD students working in different areas of
Geometry including Algebraic Geometry, Algebraic topology and Differential
Geometry. In addition, 8 local faculty members from different universities of Pakistan
are also part of this research group.

In the past four years, the group (together with their PhD students) has produced 86
research papers accepted for publication in international refereed journals; most of
them are ISI journals.

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Other activities:
 Internal Seminars, Schools, Lecture Series: 84
 Intensive Courses Open to Public: 3
 International Exposures (Schools & Workshops): 5
 Professional Enhancement Trainings: 2

 ALGEBRA (Faculty including regular and visiting)

 Gerhard Pfister
 Peter Schenzel
 Juergen Herzog
 Dorin Popoescu
 Cristodor Ionescu
 Tiberiu Dumitrescu
 Alexei Stepanov
 Mircea Becheanu
 Vakhtang Lomadze
 Marius Vladoiu
 Viviana Ene

The Algebra research group presently has 21 PhD students working in diverse
branches of Algebra including Commutative Algebra, Computational Algebra, Rings
and Modules, Homological Algebra and Algebraic Systems. Occasionally some young
researchers from the countries in the region also join this research group as post doc.
Fellows. In addition, 8 local faculty members from different universities of Pakistan
are also part of this research group.

In the past four years faculty, the post doc. Fellows and PhD students together have
written 141 research papers accepted for publication. Most of them were accepted in
ISI journals.

Other activities:
 Internal Seminars, Schools, Lecture Series: 161
 Intensive Courses Open to Public: 2
 International Exposures (Schools & Workshops): 7
 Professional Enhancement Trainings: 3

 ANALYSIS (Faculty including regular and visiting)

 Josip Pečaric
 Alexander Meskhi
 Georgi E. Karadzhov
 Oleg I. Reinov
 Constantin Buse
 Constantin Varsan
 Dan George Timotin
 Vasile Lupulescu
 Tzanko Donhev
 Constantin P. Niculescu
 Marjan Praljak

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The Analysis group along with 29 PhD students is involved presently in research areas
including Convex Analysis, Operator Theory, Approximation Theory, Differential
Equations, Dynamical Systems, Harmonic Analysis and Differential Inclusions.
Several post doc. Fellows from the region are also associated with this group. In
addition, 6 local faculty members from different universities of Pakistan are also part
of this research group.

In the past four years, the group has produced 267 research articles accepted for
publication mostly in ISI journals.

Other activities:
 Internal Seminars, Schools, Lecture Series: 89
 Intensive Courses Open to Public: 3
 International Exposures (Schools & Workshops): 4
 Professional Enhancement Trainings: 2

 DISCRETE MATHEMATICS (Faculty including regular and visiting)

 Ioan Tomescu
 Tudor Zamfirescu
 Edy Tri Baskoro
 Martin Baca
 Liping Yuan

This group also has 9 PhD students presently. Their research work is in Graph Theory,
Combinatorics and Discrete Geometry. Also 2 post doc. Fellows are working in these
areas. In addition, 12 local faculty members from different universities of Pakistan are
also part of this research group.

In the past four years, the group has produced 207 publications and most of these are
in ISI journals.

Other activities:
 Internal Seminars, Schools, Lecture Series: 79
 Intensive Courses Open to Public: 2
 International Exposures (Schools & Workshops): 4
 Professional Enhancement Trainings: 2

 APPLIED MATHEMATICS (Faculty including regular and visiting)

 Alexander Kondratyev
 Constantin Fetecau
 Calin-Ioan Gheorghiu
 Sergei Borisenok
 Vieru Dumitru

Presently there are 11 PhD students working in this group. The Applied Mathematics
group pursues research in areas of Quantum Statistical Mechanics, Fluid Dynamics,

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 Control Theory and Numerical Analysis. In addition, 8 local faculty members from
different universities of Pakistan are also part of this research group.

Since last four years, the faculty and PhD students at ASSMS have produced 151
research papers in areas of Applied Mathematics. Large majority of the papers were
accepted for publication in ISI journals.

Other activities:
 Internal Seminars, Schools, Lecture Series: 49

 STOCHASTIC PROCESSES (Faculty including regular and visiting)

 Anton Stefanescu
 Kartlos Kachiashvili
 Malkhaz Shashiashvili

This group has presently 4 PhD students and one postdoctoral fellow. PhD students
are pursuing their research in areas of Stochastic Processes, Financial Mathematics and
Simulation Problems. In addition, 2 local faculty members from different universities
of Pakistan are also part of this research group.

In the past three years, faculty and students together have 31 research papers accepted
for publication in well reputed international journals.

Other activities:
 Internal Seminars, Schools, Lecture Series: 21

 NUMBER THEORY (New Group)

 Michel Waldschmidt
 Florian Luca
 Francesco Pappalardi
 Jorge Jiménez Urroz

This is a new group and they have not yet established any formal research program at
ASSMS. The group has organized some intensive courses and has written one research
paper together.

11. The ASSMS has organized several Communication Skills workshops.

12. The ASSMS has collaborations with the following Institutions

 The Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP), Trieste, Italy
 Centre International de Mathématiques Pures et Appliquées (CIMPA), France
 University of Lille 1, France
 University of Nice, Nice, France
 Institute of Technology Bandung (ITB), Indonesia
 West University of Timişoara, Timişoara, Romania
 Institute of Mathematics "Simion Stoilow" of the Romanian Academy, Bucharest,
Romania

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  Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Malaysia
 Central Washington University, USA
 Mathematical Institute, Praha, Czech Republic
 University of Dortmund, Germany
 Technical University, Košice, Slovak Republic
 A. Razmadze Mathematical Institute of the Georgian Academy of Sciences,
Georgia
 Institute of Mathematics and Informatics, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia,
Bulgaria
 Faculty of Textile Technology, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
 Martin-Luther University Halle, Halle (Saale), Germany
 Institute of Mathematics and Information Technologies of Uzbek Academy of
Sciences, Tashkent, Uzbekistan
 Fuzhou University, China
 Universitas Jember, Indonesia
 Airlangga University, Indonesia
 Inner Mongolia University of Nationalities, Tongliao, China
 Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, China
 Universitas Islam Malang, Malang, Indonesia
 A. I. Herzen State Pedagogical University of Russia, Russia
 University of Bucharest, Romania
 Royal (Swedish) Institute of Technology (KTH), Stockholm, Sweden

13. The ASSMS has hosted the following international conferences.

 World Conference on 21st Century Mathematics, 2004
 2nd World Conference on 21st Century Mathematics, 2005
 3rd International Conference on 21st Century Mathematics, 2007
 Conference on Combinatorial and Commutative Algebra, 2009
 4th World Conference on 21st Century Mathematics, 2009
 International Conference on Mathematical Inequalities and Applications, 2010
 5th World Conference on 21st Century Mathematics, 2011

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14. The ASSMS, in collaboration with CIMPA, UNESCO and ICTP hosted the
following International Schools:

 Configuration Spaces and Applications, 2007

 Combinatorial and Computational Aspects of Commutative Algebra, 2009

 Local Analytic Geometry, 2012

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15. GUEST HOUSES FOR FOREIGN VISITING SCHOLARS:
In an effort to welcome well-established foreign visiting mathematicians, ASSMS has
acquired several Guest Houses with a total capacity of 40 persons. Upon the
recommendation of our foreign visiting faculty, we keep on improving the quality of
these Guest Houses. Breakfast and dinner is served at the Guest Houses to all the
foreign visiting faculty and lunch is served at School. The School also provides
transport to all the foreign visiting faculty as well as Primary medical care.

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16. The ASSMS is ruled by a BOARD OF GOVERNORS, composed of the following
members:

1. Vice Chancellor, Chairman

GC University, Lahore.

2. Chairperson, Member
Department of Mathematics,
GC University, Lahore.

3. Chairperson, Member
Department of Mathematics,
Punjab University, Lahore.

4. Chairperson, Member
Department of Mathematics,
Quaid-e-Azam University, Islamabad.

5. Chairperson, Member
Department of Mathematics,
Lahore University of Management Sciences, Lahore.

6. Secretary, Member
Education Department,
Government of The Punjab, Lahore.
(Or His Nominee Not Below the Rank of Additional Secretary)

7. Secretary, Member
Finance Department,
Government Of The Punjab,Lahore.
(Or His Nominee Not Below the Rank of Additional Secretary)

8. Director General, Secretary

Abdus Salam School of Mathematical Sciences,
GC University, Lahore.

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17. DIRECTORS
 Director General

Professor Dr. A. D. Raza Choudary

 Director Academic

Professor Dr. Barbu Berceanu

 Director Administration & Finance

Mr. Ejaz Hussain Malik

 Asst. Admin. Officer

Mr. Awais Naeem

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18. LAHORE MAP

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