Islamabad, 4 October 2022 (TDI): COMSTECH, Committee for Scientific and Technological Cooperation, proposed three phases program for Afghan students and researchers.
A meeting was held between Sardar Ahmed Khan Shakeeb, Ambassador of Islamic Emirates of Afghanistan, and Muhammad Iqbal Chaudhary, Coordinator General, COMSTECH. They met at the OIC-Ministerial Committee of Scientific and Technological Cooperation Secretariat Islamabad, on 4th October 2022.
The COMSTECH
The Coordinator-General of the committee briefed the Ambassador of Afghanistan about the role of COMSTECH. He underlined the efforts of the committee for strengthening science and technology in fifty-seven Muslim countries. The current mutual projects, operated by COMSTECH in Yemen, Somalia, and Palestine were also briefed.
Muhammad Iqbal Chaudhary conveyed that the President of Pakistan expressed his keen interest in supporting the development of higher education and skills in Afghanistan. He further stated that upon his prestigious instructions, COMSTECH drafted proposals for multiple projects. The programs will start at CCoE Universities of Pakistan.
The Proposed Program for Afghan Students
The program is based on three sub-projects. The first part deals with providing academic and research training to Afghan students and researchers. The second part of the program will integrate Afghanistan. It will target the essential need of the Afghan community which is food security.
To accomplish this task, a three-day workshop entitled “Climate Resilient Wheat Crop Improvement for Food Security” will be held in February 2023. The workshop will conduct with the collaboration of the Islamic Organization for Food Security (IOSF). Kazakhstan and Pakistan Agricultural Research Council, and the Ministry of National Food Security and Research will also collaborate with the workshop.
The Coordinator-General informed that the theme related to Afghanistan situation will be the focus of discussion for one specific day. The theme is “ Wheat Issue: Breeding Nutrition and Climate Resilient Verities”. The platform will highlight the problem of wheat growing under drought conditions.
Lastly, the third part is relevant to the health sector of Afghanistan. The COMSTECH, Health Services Academy, and the University of Lahore will collaborate to meet the identified goals. The three bodies will put their joint efforts into dealing with multiple issues in health sectors. The targeted areas include disease investigation, medical technologies, respirators, medicine, and training of Afghan health workers.
Also, read: Japan provides educational assistance to Afghanistan
Remarks of Afghan Ambassador
Sardar Ahmad Khan Shakeeb appreciated the efforts of COMSTECH. He expressed his gratitude to the interlocutor. He shared that Afghan students seek to avail the opportunity to get their higher degrees from Pakistan and other Islamic countries. Furthermore, the Ambassador demonstrated his dedication by ensuring that the Afghan government will put its best effort to benefit its academic communities from the above projects and programs.
