Islamabad (Web Desk): Hissein Ibrahim Taha Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), underscored the crucial need for member states to come together in the fields of science and technology to tackle the challenges faced by the Muslim Ummah.
Speaking at an event during his visit to Islamabad, he highlighted the importance of strengthening collaboration to overcome issues related to healthcare, agriculture, energy, and education within the region.
The OIC Secretary General, along with Pakistan's Minister for Science and Technology and the Coordinator General of COMSTECH, launched a new initiative—the COMSTECH Expert Service for Technological Cooperation.
The aim of this service is to help OIC member states become more technologically self-sufficient, promote long-term development, and reduce the brain drain that has long affected the region.
It also focuses on harnessing the expertise available across the Muslim world to tackle pressing issues in various sectors.
Taha also lauded the COMSTECH Fellowships and Scholarships Program, particularly its impact on Palestinian students, noting how it has helped empower Palestinian youth through access to education and skill development.
In addition, he spoke about the upcoming 16th COMSTECH General Assembly, emphasizing its significance as a platform for discussing the future trajectory of science and technology within the OIC.
The OIC secretary general also mentioned the 2nd Ministerial Meeting of the OIC-15 Dialogue Platform and an Emergency Conference on Education in Palestine as essential gatherings aimed at advancing scientific and educational initiatives in the region.
Hissein Ibrahim Taha thanked the government and people of Pakistan for their warm reception and recognized the outstanding contributions of COMSTECH in the fields of science, technology, and innovation.
Speaking on the occasion, Minister for Science and Technology Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui expressed his appreciation for Taha’s visit and reiterated the vital role that science and technology play in achieving sustainable development across the OIC member states.
He pointed to the launch of the COMSTECH Expert Service as an important step toward pooling the region’s collective expertise to address shared challenges.
Meanwhile, Coordinator General of COMSTECH Professor Dr Iqbal Choudhary discussed the organization’s ongoing efforts to foster cooperation, build scientific capacity, and promote innovation across member states.