Islamabad, October 14,2026: The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation’s Standing Committee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation (OIC-Comstech) and the Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organisation (Alecso) on Wednesday signed a joint executive programme for 2027–2028 to strengthen scientific, technological and academic cooperation across the Arab and Islamic worlds.
The programme was signed by OIC-Comstech Coordinator General Prof. Dr. Muhammad Iqbal Choudhary and Alecso Director General Prof. Dr. Mohamed Ould Amar during a strategic dialogue at the Comstech Secretariat in Islamabad.
Minister of State for Federal Education and Professional Training Wajiha Qamar attended the signing ceremony as chief guest. Higher Education Commission (HEC) Executive Director Prof. Dr. Ziaul Haq, ambassadors from Jordan, Yemen, Syria, Libya and Tunisia, representatives of the Kazakhstan, Russian, Qatari and Sudanese embassies, vice chancellors, scientists, academics and government officials also attended.
The two-year programme envisages institutional coordination, exchange of experts, joint scientific activities, technical cooperation and the mobilisation of partner organisations and financial resources.
Its implementation will be monitored through periodic meetings, annual progress reports and a final evaluation. The initiative is expected to connect Alecso’s academic and scientific institutions in Arab countries with Comstech’s network of universities, research institutions and centres of excellence across OIC member states.
Addressing the ceremony, Wajiha Qamar said science and technology had become essential to economic development and international cooperation. She noted that challenges such as climate change, food and water insecurity, emerging diseases, energy transition and rapid technological change required coordinated regional responses.
She called for joint research projects, academic mobility, professional training, university networks and partnerships with industry and development institutions.
Artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, digital transformation, climate resilience, water conservation, space sciences, biotechnology, healthcare, renewable energy and green technologies were identified as potential areas of cooperation.
Qamar also stressed the need to expand scholarships, fellowships and mentorship opportunities for young researchers while ensuring greater participation of women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
Welcoming the Alecso delegation, Prof. Choudhary said the Arab and Islamic worlds shared a rich scientific and intellectual heritage that should inspire new generations of researchers.
“No war should end a scientific career,” he said, calling for greater support for researchers and scholars displaced by conflicts.
He also proposed expanding fellowships for women scientists, promoting inclusive education and improving the international standing of universities in Arab and Islamic countries.
Choudhary said the partnership should establish stronger links among universities, laboratories, scientists and young researchers across the two regions.
Prof. Amar thanked Comstech for hosting the delegation, saying the visit had provided an opportunity for meaningful consultations between the two organisations.
He described the executive programme as a practical step towards achieving their shared objectives and expressed hope that the partnership would deliver tangible results in education, culture, science and technology.
HEC Executive Director Prof. Ziaul Haq welcomed the initiative, noting that stronger institutional links could create new opportunities for universities, scientists and young researchers in Pakistan and other participating countries.
The dialogue concluded with an agreement to translate the programme into measurable activities and review progress regularly.
