[1][3] It closely collaborates and operates under the quadripartite supervision of International Center for Theoretical Physics (ICTP) in Italy, CERN in Switzerland, and the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC).

Joining his alma mater, Government College University as Professor of Mathematics in 1951, Salam made an effort to establish the physics institute but was unable to do so.

In 1974, Prof. Abdus Salam visualised the need of an institution where experts from the industrialised nations and learners from the developing countries could get together for a couple of weeks once a year to exchange views on various subjects of current interest in Physics and allied sciences.

Prof. Riazuddin being the founding father of NCP, was its first director-general, and it was inaugurated by Dr. Ishfaq Ahmad, chairman of Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission during this period, on 16 May 2000.

The director general of European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN), Dr. Luciano Maiani and distinguished members of his delegation, the vice-chancellor of Quaid-i-Azam University, Dr. Tariq Saddiqui and other dignitaries, witnessed the inauguration.

In 2008, Dr. Hamid Saleem became its director-general after, his predecessor and founding father of NCP, Prof. Riazuddin, who was made lifetime director general emeritus.

The main objective of the workshop was to provide hands-on experience to Pakistani scientists, engineers and professionals on Grid technology.

One such area being pursued by the Centre involves a number of activities in Experimental High-Energy Physics through a co-operative agreement with CERN in Geneva, Switzerland.