The idea of organizing a summer college came from the distinguished Nobel laureate Professor Abdus Salam, who suggested in 1974 an international forum for scientists from developing countries to encourage communication and exchange of ideas.

“Scientific thought and its creation is the common and shared heritage of mankind, and the developing world should play its part—not merely by importing technology but by being the arbiter of its own scientific destiny.” — Professor Abdus Salam

Professor Salam also offered the assistance and co-sponsorship of the International Centre for Theoretical Physics, Trieste. Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission readily accepted Professor Salam's idea and started work for its implementation. It was understood that, in order to be potent and effective, academic scientific discussions must also relate to the needs of the society. Pursuit of science' without responding to the needs of society becomes a sterile activity. The pace of economic and social development would be painfully slow if not supported by the necessary scientific and technological inputs, Progress in science and socio-economic development have become highly interlinked.

It was with these considerations that the scope of the proposed activity was enlarged to make it multidisciplinary in approach and to emphasize the relevance of the subject-matter to the development needs of the Third World countries. The underlying theme of the college was appropriately designated as "Physics and Contemporary Needs". While the College proudly bears the title to date, the scope has been enlarged to discuss the relation of science to contemporary needs.

Professor Riazuddin, the Member Technical PAEC, was in-charge of organizing the college as co-director with Professor Abdus Salam. The First College of the series was held in the summer of 1976 at Nathiagali which lent it the name. The idea proved to be a big success and the College has now evolved into an institution and become a prestigious event in the scientific calendar of this part of the world. This College is perhaps the only one of its kind to be regularly organized in a developing country and, each year, covers a wide range of topics of science with emphasis on their applications to the contemporary needs of the society.