Latest news with #COMSTECH
Business Mayor
26-05-2025
- Health
- Business Mayor
COMSTECH reaffirms commitment to advancing science and technology in Africa on African Day – Associated Press of Pakistan
– Advertisement – ISLAMABAD, May 25 (APP):COMSTECH, the OIC Standing Committee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation Sunday extended its heartfelt solidarity and congratulations to African nations on the occasion of African Day and reaffirmed its deep commitment to strengthening science, technology, and innovation across the African continent. Since its establishment, COMSTECH has played a pivotal role in promoting scientific collaboration among OIC member states, with Africa as a key focus. Under the leadership of Coordinator General Prof. Dr. Muhammad Iqbal Choudhary, during the last five years, COMSTECH has launched a wide array of initiatives aimed at building capacity, supporting research, enhancing health systems, and empowering youth and women throughout Africa. In his special message for African Day, Prof. Dr. Muhammad Iqbal Choudhary stated,'Africa is not only a continent of vast potential and rich heritage. It is the future of global innovation. At COMSTECH, we are committed to harnessing the power of science and technology to enable sustainable development, nurture local talent, and build resilient communities throughout Africa.' COMSTECH's efforts have included hands-on training workshops in renewable energy, biotechnology, information and communication technologies, and environmental sciences. Through partnerships with institutions like TWAS, the University of Lahore, ICCBS, and HUCM, hundreds of African scholars have been awarded fully funded research fellowships, technical training, and academic degrees in Pakistan. In addition to academic support, COMSTECH has strengthened scientific research across Africa by funding collaborative projects that unite African universities with counterparts across the OIC. These projects tackle pressing challenges such as food security, public health, and climate resilience. Scientific conferences and seminars held in Nigeria, Ethiopia, and other countries have facilitated knowledge exchange and fostered long-term institutional partnerships. COMSTECH has also taken significant steps to improve health systems in African nations. A comprehensive five-year action plan includes disease surveillance training, health policy workshops, and virtual health networks. In cooperation with the Islamic Development Bank and LRBT, COMSTECH has organized cataract surgery camps in Niger, Chad, and Somalia, trained ophthalmologists in managing diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma, and conducted specialized workshops on topics including leishmaniasis, neurology, and histopathology in cities such as Addis Ababa, Kampala, and Mogadishu. Efforts to support infrastructure development have led to the establishment of centres of excellence and Halal authentication laboratories, most notably at the Islamic University in Uganda and the provision of advanced scientific instruments in Mauritania and Chad. COMSTECH's expert missions have also helped restore and operationalize critical laboratory equipment. Women and youth are at the heart of COMSTECH's programs. Through mentorship schemes, scholarships, and the COMSTECH Youth Leadership Training initiative, young African professionals are brought to Islamabad to work on science and technology policy solutions. In Nigeria, a COMSTECH-IsDB initiative has advanced citrus processing technologies, while in The Gambia, a partnership with the Al-Khwarizmi Institute has resulted in the launch of a Master's in Computer Science curriculum and an ICT vocational training center. Between 2022 and 2024 alone, more than 70 African awardees benefited from fellowships and targeted programs, including those for Least Developed Countries (LDCs). To date, over 161 individuals from OIC and non-OIC African states have been supported through COMSTECH's diverse educational and training initiatives. Moreover, COMSTECH has covered travel costs for over 40 African scholars to participate in major conferences on topics such as neglected tropical diseases, precision agriculture, natural product chemistry, and water resource management. Under the COMSTECH-Gourmet Industrial Internship Program, young researchers from African countries were placed in various departments of the leading food industry of Pakistan, and more would be placed on a yearly basis. These wide-ranging and impactful initiatives reflect COMSTECH's unwavering commitment to advancing scientific capacity, fostering innovation, and enabling sustainable development across Africa through dedicated cooperation and strategic support.
Arab News
05-05-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
OIC's COMSTECH to hold International Water Conference in Islamabad this week
ISLAMABAD: The Organization of Islamic Cooperation's (OIC) Standing Committee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation (COMSTECH) will hold an International Water Conference in the Pakistani capital of Islamabad on May 6–7, the committee said on Sunday, aiming to ensure sustainable management of water resources. The conference on 'Emerging Technologies for Water Security and Socio-Economic Development' will take place at the OIC-COMSTECH Secretariat Islamabad. It will convene researchers, practitioners, academicians, and policymakers from around the world to address critical issues related to water management and sustainability. Water security remains a critical issue for many OIC member states, while challenges such as climate change, water scarcity, pollution and inefficient resource management continue to threaten economic and social development. Pakistan is among countries with highest rate of water consumption in the world. Rainfall has steadily declined over the past few decades and experts have been warning for years the South Asian country will approach 'absolute scarcity' of water by 2025. 'The conference aims to foster in-depth discussions that will inform policy and practice, stimulate cross-sectoral collaboration, and promote innovative approaches for the sustainable management of water resources,' COMSTECH said on Sunday. 'Proceedings and a detailed post-conference report will be published to capture key insights, research findings, and actionable recommendations for long-term impact.' Pakistan witnessed drought conditions in several areas amid a below-normal rainfall deficit of 40 percent from Sept. 1 to Mar. 21, according to the Pakistan Meteorological Department. There was an 'acute shortage' of stored water in the Tarbela and Mangla dams, while water in different rivers flowed at an 'extreme low level.' Pakistan's agriculture sector, which contributes nearly a quarter of Pakistan's gross domestic product (GDP) and employs 37 percent of the national labor force, uses the most amount of fresh water than any other sector. The South Asian country generally relies on water from the Indus river which bisects it from north to south, where it empties into the Arabian Sea. The water conference is being held at a time when Islamabad is facing a threat from India to suspend the 1960 World Bank-brokered Indus Waters Treaty, which ensures water for 80 percent of Pakistani farms, amid tensions between the two neighbors over an attack in Indian-administered Kashmir that killed 26 tourists on April 22. Islamabad has described the move as an 'act of war' and said it would take 'all appropriate steps' to safeguard its due share of water. COMSTECH said the International Water Conference in Islamabad will provide a dynamic platform for knowledge exchange and collaborative dialogue, with attendees engaging in academic presentations, interactive panel discussions, and specialized technical sessions. 'Over 80 scholarly papers will be presented under diverse sub-themes, including Environment and Climate Change, Food and Agriculture, Glaciology and Snow Hydrology, WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene), Circular Water Economy, Policy and Governance, and Artificial Intelligence for Water Security,' it said. COMTECH is organizing the conference in collaboration with the Riphah Institute of Public Policy, Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources (PCRWR), Water Aid and the University of Haripur.
Arab News
28-04-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Pakistan university, COMSTECH ink MoU for scholarships of Palestinian students
ISLAMABAD: A Pakistani university has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Organization of Islamic Cooperation's (OIC) Standing Committee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation (COMSTECH) to provide scholarships to Palestinian students, state media reported on Monday. The initiative is part of the 'COMSTECH Scholarships and Research Fellowships for Palestinian Nationals' program, which aims to support Palestinian students by covering their tuition and hostel fees. The program also provides them monthly stipends, enabling Palestinian students to pursue higher education in Pakistan. 'The OIC Standing Committee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation (COMSTECH) and Abbottabad University of Science and Technology (AUST) on Sunday signed a MoU to offer scholarships to Palestinian students for the academic year 2025-2026,' the APP said. As per the MoU, the Pakistani university would provide tuition to Palestinian students through both online and on-campus learning modes, APP said. 'The UST Abbottabad will offer 40 scholarships in various undergraduate programs including Doctor of Physiotherapy, Doctor of Pharmacy, BS Medical Laboratory Technology (MLT), BS Microbiology, BS Food Sciences, BS Computer Science and BS Software Engineering,' the report said. Last year, Pakistan's University of Lahore offered 5,000 free scholarships, fellowships and short training programs for Palestinian students in collaboration with COMSTECH. Pakistan has actively tried to help Palestinian students secure higher education in the country after Israel's military campaign in Gaza, which has killed over 52,000 Palestinians since Oct, 7, 2023, in the densely populated enclave. Over 300 Palestinian students were enrolled in Pakistani universities in 2024 while more than 50,000 Palestinian nationals have graduated from educational institutions in Pakistan over the years.
Arab News
22-04-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
OIC urges member states to implement science, technology agenda during Islamabad moot
Islamabad: An Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) official on Tuesday urged member states to intensify their efforts in implementing the OIC's Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) Agenda 2026 to ensure sustainable development. The Ministerial Standing Committee of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation for Scientific and Technological Cooperation (COMSTECH) is organizing the sixth meeting of the OIC steering committee for the implementation of the organization's Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) Agenda 2026 from Apr. 22-24 in Islamabad. The OIC's STI Agenda 2026, launched at the First OIC Summit on Science and Technology in Astana, Kazakhstan in 2017, is a strategic framework to advance science and technology by fostering collaboration, promoting sustainable development and enhancing the scientific capabilities of member states. 'I stress the utter importance of intensifying our efforts in implementing the OIC STI Agenda 2026 until it expires,' Ambassador Aftab Ahmed Khokhar, the OIC's assistant secretary general for science and technology, said in his address during the meeting's inaugural session. This high-level meeting is being attended by the heads and representatives of 15 OIC institutions from Saudi Arabia, Kazakhstan, Türkiye, Jordan, Uganda, Bangladesh, Malaysia, and Pakistan. The STI agenda's progress is reviewed through regular meetings of the OIC Steering Committee. These meetings assess achievements, identify challenges and set future directions for the agenda's implementation. Khokhar highlighted the urgency of reviewing the STI Agenda, addressing associated challenges and outlining a way forward to ensure impactful outcomes. 'The OIC STI agenda, which is expiring in 2026, may be extended for another 10 years from 2027 to 2037, splitting into several shorter time frames with measurable and realistic actions to be executed,' he said. COMSTECH Coordinator General Prof. Dr. M. Iqbal Choudhary said that with a population of 2 billion people across 57 countries, the OIC is focused on equipping its youth with science and technology to drive socioeconomic change. 'The OIC STI Agenda 2026 focuses on 12 priorities including ensuring quality education for all, enhancing youth employability through skills and training, and securing access to food, water, and energy as essential foundations for sustainable development,' Choudhary told Arab News. He said it was very important to understand climate change and its impact on human life, highlighting it as one of the key areas where member states were working together under the STI agenda. The COMSTECH official said Pakistan and Saudi Arabia could lead the Muslim world in this field. He noted that in recent years, the Kingdom under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's leadership, has achieved major milestones in science and technology-driven socio-economic development. 'I think Pakistan and Saudi Arabia can work together not only for bilateral benefit and cooperation but also to benefit other countries in the Muslim world,' Chaudhary explained. He said Saudi Arabia had a leader's role to play in developing an economically inclusive Muslim world through the use of science, technology and industry.
Arab News
21-04-2025
- Science
- Arab News
COMSTECH to host sixth OIC steering committee meeting in Islamabad from Apr. 22-24
ISLAMABAD: The Ministerial Standing Committee of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation for Scientific and Technological Cooperation (COMSTECH) is set to host the sixth meeting of the OIC steering committee for the implementation of the OIC Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) Agenda 2026 from Apr. 22-24 in Islamabad, the organization said recently. Established by the OIC in 1981 and headquartered in Islamabad, COMSTECH continues to serve as a cornerstone of the OIC's mission to promote scientific excellence and technological innovation, focusing on sustainable development, poverty reduction and improvement in quality of life across member states. Confirmed participants of the upcoming steering committee meeting include heads and representatives of 17 OIC institutions from Saudi Arabia, Kazakhstan, Turkiye, Jordan, Uganda, Bangladesh, Malaysia and Pakistan, COMSTECH said. 'The upcoming Steering Committee meeting will focus on reviewing the implementation progress of the OIC STI Agenda 2026, which was initiated following the First OIC Summit on STI in Astana, Kazakhstan, 2017,' COMSTECH said in a statement issued on Sunday. 'The agenda aims to foster research collaboration, knowledge sharing, and technology transfer among OIC member states to support sustainable development.' It said key agenda items also include reviewing member states' progress on STI Agenda 2026 goals, identifying new joint initiatives and partnerships and discussing future actions leading toward the proposed OIC STI Agenda. The meeting will also feature presentations from OIC institutions on their progress, challenges and recommendations under the Abu Dhabi Declaration (2022). To prepare for the event, COMSTECH's Coordinator General Prof. Dr. M. Iqbal Choudhary chaired a high-level preparatory meeting at the body's headquarters in Islamabad on Sunday where he issued key directives to ensure the smooth execution of the Steering Committee's sessions. COMSTECH said its senior officials, program managers and departmental representatives attended the meeting. COMSTECH said it continues to play a central role in facilitating STI cooperation and will oversee coordination among partner institutions to implement recommended initiatives and sustain momentum toward the strategic objectives of the OIC-STI agenda.
