The OIC Standing Committee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation (COMSTECH) and Pakistan’s Higher Education Commission (HEC) have signed a Letter of Agreement to strengthen academic and scholarly collaboration between Pakistani universities and higher education institutions across OIC member states.
The agreement was signed at the OIC-COMSTECH Secretariat in Islamabad by Prof Dr Muhammad Iqbal Choudhary, Coordinator General of OIC-COMSTECH, and Prof Dr Niaz Ahmad Akhtar, Chairman of HEC.
Under the agreement, the two institutions will promote joint academic, scientific and scholarly activities, including lectures, seminars, workshops, expert talks, academic dialogues, institutional visits and capacity-building programmes. The initiative will also facilitate greater participation of scholars, researchers and experts from OIC member states in academic activities at Pakistani universities.
The agreement followed discussions between the leadership of COMSTECH and HEC on enhancing cooperation between the two institutions. Prof. Dr. Muhammad Iqbal Choudhary reaffirmed COMSTECH’s commitment to scientific cooperation, academic mobility and knowledge exchange across the Muslim world, offering support for bringing leading experts and distinguished scholars from OIC countries to Pakistani universities.
Prof. Dr. Niaz Ahmad Akhtar appreciated COMSTECH’s contribution to the advancement of science and technology across OIC member states and said stronger cooperation between COMSTECH and HEC could help expand academic partnerships between Pakistani universities and institutions in other OIC countries.
The two sides also agreed to highlight the achievements and contributions of prominent Muslim scientists as part of efforts to showcase the scientific heritage of the Muslim world. The initiative is expected to inspire students and young researchers while encouraging greater interest in scientific research, innovation and technological development.
Under the agreement, COMSTECH will facilitate visits by experts and scholars from OIC member states, while HEC will provide local hospitality to visiting scholars.
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Senior officials from HEC and COMSTECH attended the signing ceremony, which marks another step toward expanding Pakistan’s academic engagement with the wider Muslim world. The partnership is expected to create new opportunities for universities, researchers and students through international expertise, collaborative research, scholarly exchange and capacity-building activities.
