In a notable development, President of Pakistan and Chairman of COMSTECH, H.E. Asif Ali Zardari, has reappointed Prof Dr M Iqbal Choudhary as the Coordinator General of COMSTECH for a second four-year term. Prof Choudhary has been leading COMSTECH since April 2020, initiating numerous projects focused on strengthening the scientific and technological capabilities of OIC (Organization of Islamic Cooperation) member states.

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The announcement has been met with widespread approval from diplomats of OIC member states, academic leaders, and scientific communities who view Prof Choudhary’s reappointment as an opportunity to continue the progress he has catalyzed. His efforts have significantly bolstered socio-economic development initiatives and fostered regional collaborations, enhancing capacity-building efforts across OIC countries.

COMSTECH, a ministerial committee of the OIC established during the Third Islamic Summit in Makkah in 1981, serves as the OIC’s primary scientific and technological body, uniting all member states through their science and technology ministers. With Pakistan holding the chair, COMSTECH operates under the leadership of the President of Pakistan, with the Prime Minister as co-chair, and the Coordinator General as the Chief Executive.

Prof Dr M Iqbal Choudhary is a distinguished national meritorious professor and one of Pakistan’s most celebrated scientists, particularly recognized for his contributions to bioorganic and natural product chemistry. He has authored and edited 76 books, primarily published in the United States and Europe, and has contributed 1,175 research papers to international journals. His scholarly work, cited over 41,000 times globally, has earned him an h-index of 82. Dr Choudhary has mentored over 100 PhD students and has registered 40 US patents to date.

Internationally, Prof Choudhary’s scientific influence is substantial. Recently, China’s Hunan University of Medicine honored him by naming a new research building after him in recognition of his leadership in establishing Sino-Pak research centers, which have driven collaborative research between Chinese and Pakistani scientists. His reappointment as COMSTECH’s Coordinator General is anticipated to further these partnerships, fostering scientific advancement within the OIC and beyond.

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