By Hamid Khan Wazir
ISLAMABAD: The “COMSTECH Consortium of Excellence (CCoE)” was launched at COMSTECH Headquarters in Islamabad on Wednesday under the “Science Diplomacy Initiative” of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA).
The OIC Ministerial Standing Committee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation (COMSTECH) and the MoFA launched the CCoE.
The Consortium consisted of leading academic and research institutions of Pakistan and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) member states in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
The Launching Ceremony of the CCoE held under the Chairmanship of Coordinator General COMSTECH Professor Dr. Muhammad Iqbal Chaudhary.
The Foreign Secretary of Pakistan Sohail Mahmood graced the occasion as the Chief Guest.
The Vice-Chancellors and Senior Officials of Quaid-i-Azam University (QAU) Islamabad, Islamia University Bahawalpur, National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), Government College University (GCU) Lahore, Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute of Engineering Sciences and Technology, Pakistan Institute of Nuclear Science and Technology, NED University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS), Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, and the University of Punjab attended the Ceremony.
While speaking at the launching ceremony of the “COMSTECH Consortium of Excellence”, the Foreign Secretary Sohail Mahmood said that the higher education institutions are shaping the future of Pakistan.
The foreign secretary said that the CCoE initiative is conceived to provide the platform to the leading universities of Pakistan and the universities of the OIC member states to cooperate, collaborate, and showcase their achievements.
Sohail Mahmood informed that the MoFA has launched a multipurpose science diplomacy initiative to create linkages between partners and popularize science, adding this forum will help boost trade activities in the country.
The foreign secretary mentioned that COMSTECH has a responsibility to enhance science, technology, and innovation in OIC member states and commended the current efforts of COMSTECH and its leadership for initiating new projects like CCoE.
Earlier in his inaugural address, Professor Dr. Iqbal Chaudhary said that the purpose of CCoE is to put our efforts to achieve excellence in partnership.
Professor Dr. Iqbal Chaudhary said that Pakistan has done a lot in the area of science and technology and now it’s time to reap the benefit by showcasing Pakistan.
The coordinator general COMSTECH said that the forum would bring technology to Pakistan and would help in the internationalization of the areas of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. He said that the COMSTECH- MoFA collaboration will open new avenues in science diplomacy.
Dr. Iqbal mentioned that COMSTECH being the apex body in the OIC science arena gives Pakistan a leading role in the area of science technology and innovation.
Professor Dr. Iqbal Chaudhary discussed the current state of OIC member states and provided a comprehensive report of COMSTECH activities.
Vice-chancellors and senior officials of the CCoE founding member universities of Pakistan shared current programs.
They also offered their cooperation and support to collaborate and cooperate under the umbrella of CCoE.
