COMSATS University Islamabad, Abbottabad Campus, and Above Zero (Private) Limited have signed a three-year Memorandum of Understanding that opens the Thandiani project to the university’s students and faculty from the very start.
The MoU was signed on 15 October 2026 at the CUI Abbottabad Campus by Dr. Zakir Hussain, Director, COMSATS University Islamabad, Abbottabad Campus, and Abdullah Khan, Chief Executive Officer, Above Zero.
Under the agreement, the two institutions will explore internships, joint research, capstone projects, professional training and knowledge-sharing. Fields include Environmental Sciences, Civil Engineering, Computer Sciences, Management Sciences and heritage conservation.
For students, it means real work on a real project close to home: Thandiani, the site of Pakistan’s first purpose-planned, four-season mountain destination, while it is still being planned.
In its announcement, COMSATS said the collaboration “is expected to contribute to applied research, professional capacity building, innovation, and sustainable development in the region.”
“We wanted Thandiani studied before anything was built on it. COMSATS Abbottabad brings
the scientists, the engineers and, most importantly, the young people from the region itself.
Their students get a mountain to learn from, and we get a research partner.” – Abdullah Khan, Chief Executive Officer, Above Zero.
What the partnership covers
● Learning on site: internships, capstone projects and experiential learning on the Thandiani project.
● Joint research: across environmental sciences, civil engineering, green architecture and heritage conservation.
● Skills and exposure: professional training, guest lectures by industry professionals, innovation challenges and technical competitions.
● A joint office: the partners will explore establishing a joint office at CUI Abbottabad
Campus for coordination, mentoring, internships and recruitment.
Specific projects will be agreed separately under the MoU.
Above Zero holds the 400-kanal Thandiani site under a 100-year public–private partnership
with the Galiyat Development Authority, Govt. of KPK, signed in May 2026. Its masterplan is
being prepared by Ecosign Mountain Resort Planners of Canada, the firm behind six Winter Olympic venues.
A four-season town will need engineers, scientists, technologists and managers all year round. Through internships, training, mentoring and the recruitment planned for the joint office, the MoU opens a route into that work for the district’s own university and its students.
The first opportunities will be announced through COMSATS Abbottabad and Above Zero’s channels.
Hazara’s young graduates have often had to leave home for opportunities like these. At
Thandiani, the opportunities are coming to them.
About Above Zero (Private) Limited Above Zero is developing Pakistan’s first purpose-planned, four-season mountain town at Thandiani, Galiyat, under a 100-year public–private partnership with the Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The consortium includes Tahir Builders (Pvt.) Ltd. and the creators of Qubed Hospitality.
About COMSATS University Islamabad, Abbottabad Campus COMSATS University Islamabad (CUI) is an innovative institution of learning and development. The main focus of CUI in the coming years will be to transform CUI to meet the challenges of a rapidly changing technological environment as well as societal needs through the best affordable academic programs at par with leading global standards, within Pakistan.
Media Enquiries: [email protected] | +92 309 340 0000 | abovezero.pk
