COMSTECH in Collaboration with China Establishing BRI Joint Laboratories in Member States – CG Dr. Iqbal Shares Ongoing Programs with Media

Tazeen Akhtar

Pakistani public mostly listen negative things more than good things about Pakistan but matter of fact is that many good things are happening in Pakistan that give rise to hopes that our future is bright. The Ministerial Standing Committee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (COMSTECH) is running and coordinating a number of programs for scholarships, fellowships, workshops and trainings for the scholars of the member countries that lack resources and need support for development through education and health.

Prof. Dr. M. Iqbal Choudhary, Coordinator General of (COMSTECH) recommends Science and Technology as the only solution to the socio-economic development of member nations. He said that Pakistan as the host of the headquarter of COMSTECH is contributing the maximum for promotion of S&T. Saudi Arabia, Turkiye, Malaysia, Kazakhstan and Iran also share findings regularly.

He noted this in a press briefing to the beat reporters of education,science and health at COMSTECH in Islamabad on 13 Dec 2023. He apprised the journalists about various programs conducted purely from COMSTECH and coordinated or collaborated with other organizations and governments of the world. His briefing consisted of related slides with all details of the programs that if availed properly by the scholars of member states the dream of up-gradation of the level of science and technology can become true.

Prof. Choudhary shared a comprehensive report of COMSTECH programs, past activities and future plans for the socio-economic development of the OIC states.

Some important programs are as under:

1- 500 scholarships for Palestinian scholars who live their or displaced. This is purely COMSTECH indigenous effort initiated in 2022 when previously Gaza was under attack.  Pakistani Private universities  are cooperating in this program.

2-Science in Exile program started in 2021 is meant for researchers including women scholars who are living in exile due to the conflicts in their countries or for those Muslims who live in a non Muslim country.

3-Diagnosis of diseases in least developed member states weather a disease is viral or not.

4- COMSTECH Consortium of Excellence is working on the capacity enhancement of Universities of member states. More than 280 universities do not have international recognition.

5- Alliance of Islamic Universities in Africa. This program helps the universities in up-gradation of their teaching skills and improve their learning process

6-Country specific programs for Palestine, Yemen, Somalia, Nigeria, Sudan, Kyrgyzstan, Mauritania, Kenya, Niger. The program include Scholarships , Fellowships, Workshops etc.

7- Africa Program in Health and Science & Technology Innovation. Prof. Dr. M. Iqbal Choudhary shared that in the whole West Africa, there are only 20 eye specialists. The region needs at least 200 specialists ASAP. The first batch of specialists will have training in Karachi fully funded by Islamic Development Bank. He said that COMSTECH has helped in holding eye camps in Niger, Chad, Sudan etc.

8-COMSTECH is not one organization. It has 29 sub organizations that working on different sectors. It has set up a number of institutes and academies as well.

9-Prominent scholars program is working in Pakistan, Indonesia, Malaysia and two other member states to select intelligent youth and support them for their higher education and research.

10-COMSTECH Science Communication and Diplomacy Initiative includes journalists and opinion makers to raise awareness about the importance of S&T and disseminate information about  available opportunities under the umbrella of COMSTECH

11-COMSTECH Awards are presented to the scholars who excel in their field. This is sometimes the first award any scholar receives that leave pleasant impression on him/her and they continue their work with more determination and concentration

12- COMSTECH has convinced China as the pioneer of BRI and CPEC to cooperate in setting up Joint BRI Laboratories in member states. Prof. Dr. M. Iqbal Choudhary said that Huawei is on board with us in this regard.

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Prof. Choudhary informed that the difference between the developed and developing world is not the lack of resources, wealth or capital, but it is the knowledge that makes difference.

Prof. Choudhary said that there are 57 OIC member states inhabiting 1.9 billion people and the 60% population is below the age of 27 years, 23 member states are LDC as per United Nations, share only 2.97% of world high technology export and acquire 1.6% of world patents, expenditure of research and development is 0.3% of GDPs, which is well below the world average, and only 17 universities of the OIC region are in top 50.

Prof. Choudhary said that the challenges of OIC member states include massive poverty, unemployment, inequality, women illiteracy, conflict zones, massive displacement of human population, political instability and frequent disruption of democratic process. He said that 180 million people are food insecure.

He said that out of 10 most climate change venerable countries 5 are in OIC region, including Pakistan, Mozambique, and Maldives. He mentioned that non-functional education system, and over 180 million children  out of school worsening the situation further.

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Prof. Choudhary emphasized that science can only help to meet these challenges. He said green and gene revolution can feed the hungry. He said the global life expectancy can exceed to live over 100 years of productive life. He said that antibiotics and antivirals are saving the lives of millions of people today. He said that biotechnology, 3D printing of organs, gene editing, smart computer, synthetic bacteria, and nanotechnology will redefine the world around us.

Replying to the questions from the journalists, he said there is a need of networking and collective efforts to meet the challenges being faced by the Ummah. He said new technologies will be of great help to meet the challenges created by the climate change. He also emphasized the need of the resource mobilization for scientific and technological development of the Ummah.

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Editor’s Note: COMSTECH is looking after dozens of programs to enhance science and technology in OIC. This scribe while visiting some countries in last couple of years has noted the work of this great and important organization. Pakistan is proud to have this organization and splendid work it is doing in Islamic world. Certainly funding is the basic requirement of such organizations. UNO even can not deliver if the member states do not contribute. COMSTECH can deliver more if developed and rich Muslim countries have the cognizance of the importance of S&T. For that , 10 or 15 Muslim countries that have enough resources , can establish a group and take the responsibility of shared development. The least developed Muslim countries are looking towards them for helping hand.