COMSTECH News & Announcements

Islamabad: Thursday, April 30, 2020

The Prime Minister of Pakistan visited exhibition on COVID-19 organized by Ministry of Science and Technology at COMSTECH. The Coordinator General, COMSTECH Prof. Dr. M. Iqbal Choudhary _{(H. I., S. I., T. I.)} visited the exhibition and attended the briefing given at the occasion.

Speech of Prime Minister

The exhibition was organized by the Ministry of Science and Technology with the objective to showcase Pakistan’s success in manufacturing various essential items, such as protective gears, ventilators, respirators, sanitizers and disinfectants and masks of various types. The coordinator General COMSTECH Prof. Dr. M. Iqbal Choudhary (H. I., S. I., T. I.) regarded this exhibition an excellent example of converting a calamity into an opportunity for technological development of show-casing Pakistan’s technological breakthrough in other OIC countries.

Prime Minister’s Visit to exhibition stalls 

The minister of S&T Mr. Fawad Chaudhary briefed Prime Minister about various initiatives which MoST has taken to meet the national demands for products required against COVID-19 infection. Minister of defence production Ms. Zubaida Jalal also spoke at the occasion. The Prime Minister speaking to audience, appreciated the efforts of scientists and technologists of Pakistan and emphasized the need of science and technology and higher education as primary attributes of national self-reliance.

The exhibit took place in the COMSTECH building at the constitution avenue.

The newly appointed Coordinator General Prof. Dr. M. Iqbal Choudhary _{H.I., S.I., T. I.}, soon after taking the charge of the organization, met with the Minister for Science and Technology, Mr. Fawad Chaudhary in his office. He briefed the minister on COMSTECH existing program, such as collaborative programs with IFS, TWAS, Lindau Nobel Laureates Meetings, financial assistance for Inter-Islamic Networks, assistance for conferences, workshops, and seminars, COMSTECH awards, preparation of OIC science profile and COMSTECH research publication program.

To highlight the future plans, he mentioned COMSTECH capacity building initiative in infectious diseases (“preparing for the next pandemics”), artificial intelligence initiative for health and agriculture, science diplomacy and university-industry initiative. He emphasized the revival of the Science Technology and Innovation Organization (STIO) approved by OIC, and obtained contributions from Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Iran, and Malaysia. Prof. Choudhary mentioned that the programs and activities planned for 2020-21 are from a working paper, prepared on the instruction of the President of Pakistan who is the Chairman COMSTECH as well.

The Minister assured him the fullest support of his Ministry in fulfilling the mission of COMSTECH for science and technology cooperation in OIC member states. He has shown confidence that through COMSTECH, Pakistan will also be able to build its capacity in future fields of science and technology through bilateral and multilateral cooperation with leading institutions in OIC countries. The half-life of Amoxicillin is 1–1.5 hours. In patients with impaired kidney function, the half-life of the drug is extended to 4–12.6 hours (depending on creatinine clearance). Amoxicillin is partially metabolized to inactive metabolites. 50–70% of the drug is excreted unchanged via the kidneys by tubular excretion (80%) and glomerular filtration (20%), and 10–20% — via the liver. The drug is excreted into breast milk in small amounts. The action of the drug starts 15–30 minutes after the intake and lasts for 8 hours.

COMSTECH is the Ministerial Standing Committee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation of the OIC (Organization of Islamic Cooperation) which was established by the Third Islamic Summit of OIC held at Makkah, Saudi Arabia in January 1981. COMSTECH is composed of all the member states of the organization represented by their ministers of science and technology or nominated representatives. The President of Pakistan is the chairman, Prime Minister of Pakistan is the co-chairman and the Coordinator General is the Chief Executive of COMSTECH which is the only OIC organization chaired by Pakistan.

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Coronavirus disease (2019-nCoV) aka Covid-19 is an infectious disease caused by a novel coronavirus i.e. severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses, causing illness in humans and circulate among animals such as bats. The disease spreads primarily from person to person through small droplets, which are expelled when a person with Covid-19 coughs, sneezes, or speaks. 

The disease was first identified in December 2019 in Wuhan, China and has since spread globally, resulting in the ongoing 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic.

Robust response and scientific efforts are underway to curb this menace. On forefront is the development of vaccine. World Health Organization (WHO) has 76 vaccine candidates against Covid-19 so far among which only 5 are under clinical evaluation. These 5 may have to prove their worth through rigorous follow up and testing.

COMSTECH has arranged web based seminar to discuss Covid-19 epidemiology and its ramification for wider public health and health sciences particularly for the OIC member states. Prof. Dr. Saad B. Omer is invited for this seminar.  In this talk, Prof. Omer will delve into insights of Covid- 19 epidemiology globally. He will discuss prospects, rigors and future predicaments for the Covid- 19 vaccine production.

Speaker’s Profile:

Prof. Dr. Saad B. Omer is the founding Director of the Yale Institute for Global Health, and a Professor of Medicine and Epidemiology at the World Famous Yale University, Schools of Medicine and Public Health, USA.  He has conducted studies in the United States, Guatemala, Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, South Africa and other OIC states. Dr Omer’s research portfolio includes clinical trials to estimate efficacy and safety of maternal and/or infant influenza, pertussis, polio, measles and pneumococcal vaccines and trials to evaluate drug regimens to reduce mother-to-child transmission of HIV. He has published over 280 papers in peer reviewed journals and has mentored over 100 junior faculty, clinical, and research post-doctoral fellows and PhD and other graduate students. Prof. Omer’s insight about pandemics and their impact is unique and praise worthy.

https://medicine.yale.edu/profile/saad_omer/

Procedure to join:

Step 1: Download software zoom for this web based seminar (https://zoom.us/)

Step 2: Send your request to join this seminar at khazima@comstech.org. Pl. note you need to send your Name, Email address, Affiliation, Profession, level of education in this email.  

Contact Information: 

Address: COMSTECH Secretariat, 33-Constitution Avenue, G-5/2, Islamabad 
Phone No. : 92 51 9220681-3
Fax : 92 51 9211115, 9220265, 9205264
Email: khazima@comstech.org ; comstech@comstech.org

Islamabad: 1st June, 2020: Coordinator General COMSTECH, Prof. Dr. M. Iqbal Choudhary requested all OIC member states to support the plight of refugees during COVID-19 pandemic.

Dr. Choudhary mentioned that it has been established scientifically that malnourished refugees, living in overcrowded and unhygienic conditions are especially vulnerable to infections. He recognized that we Muslims understand the importance of serving refugees in the Islamic world. He pointed that the significance of refugees is deep rooted in Islam’s commitment to generosity, hospitality and non-discriminatory protection as taught in Islamic tradition. He hoped that as Pakistan has protected Afghan refugees for over 40-years with the sincerity and belief in basic human dignity, our brothers and sisters in the Muslim Ummah through ties with this august forum of OIC will pledge their support to do the same.

Coordinator General COMSTECH highlighted that many OIC member states including Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Turkey have been generously hosting millions of refugees and emphasized, with this background in mind, we are acutely aware and recognize that there is an urgent need to configure the far-reaching impact of conflict, poverty and displacement in OIC member states. Prof. Choudhary indicated that it is in recognition of the potential threat of starvation and disease arising from the rapid spread of COVID-19 in refugees in OIC member states.

In view of these considerations, He appealed for OIC assistance, through its own offices, offices of UNHCR and other agencies, be mobilized on priority basis to protect the millions of refugees in member states. He recommended to develop and implement a special relief package to provide monetary and technical assistance to refugees that provide food, essential medicines, masks, hand sanitizers and other such essential relief items.

Coordinator General COMSTECH showed his confidence that with the support of OIC member states, we will uphold our Muslim tradition, derived from the deep-rooted Muslim faith that “in the face of the world’s calamities, all sons of Adam are equal”. He hoped that we shall persevere in protecting the most vulnerable as well as upholding the rights of refugees in our communities and work together in realizing the long-standing principles of international solidarity and burden sharing at this critical conjuncture.

H.E. Prof. Dr. M. Iqbal Choudhary, Coordinator General COMSTECH met with Maj. Gen. Amer Ikram, Executive Director, National Institute of Health (NIH), Islamabad, Pakistan on Thursday, 4^th June, 2020 in his office. The matters related to joint collaboration between COMSTECH and NIH were discussed in detail and agreed to hold the various joint activities.

June 04, 2020: H.E. Prof. Dr. M. Iqbal Choudhary, Coordinator General COMSTECH met with H.E. Ambassador Sohail Mahmood, Foreign Secretary of Pakistan in his office on Thursday, 4^th June, 2020.  Mr. Muhammad Kamran Akhtar, Director General (ACDIS) and Mr. Tariq Karim, Director General (EC & OCI), Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) were also present in the meeting.

The Coordinator General COMSTECH discussed with the Foreign Secretary, new programs and activities of COMSTECH initiated after assumption of Charge of the office of Coordinator General COMSTECH and sought support of the Foreign Office.  The matters related with regards to COMSTECH – MoFA collaboration in Science Diplomacy initiative and Capacity Building Programs across the OIC region were also discussed.  The Foreign Secretary assured the Coordinator General COMSTECH of his full support in launching of new initiatives.

Coordinator General COMSTECH, Prof. Dr. M. Iqbal Choudhary had a virtual meeting with the Executive Vice President of Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK), Dr. Orkun HASEKİOĞLU, on 16^th June 2020 at 1500 hrs. Ms. Khazima Muazim, Programme Manager, COMSTECH also attended the meeting.

Both dignitaries decided to extend support and partnership in holding capacity building initiatives in areas of science, technology and engineering. These will include joint holding of thematic workshops, and providing research scholarships for OIC countries. TUBITAK offered support to COMSTECH in technicians training in Pakistan and least developed OIC member states. It was decided to invite SESRIC to join technicians training initiative. COMSTECH and TUBITAK agreed to work together to ensure availability of sustainable support for STI projects in future. It was mutually decided to conduct strategic review of various STI initiatives in OIC countries.

Prof. Dr. M. Iqbal Choudhary, Coordinator General COMSTECH met with the honourable Lt. Gen. Naweed Zaman, Rector of National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), Islamabad, Pakistan on 16th June 2020. The dignitaries discussed opportunities of mutual interest, and agreed to extend cooperation to build a strong collaboration mechanism to deal with emerging challenges of the post-COVID-19 world.

H.E. Prof. Dr. M. Iqbal Choudhary, Coordinator General COMSTECH had an online meeting with H.E. Ambassador Askar Mussinov, Assistant Secretary General (S&T), Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on 16th June 2020. Mr. Irfan Shaukat, Director General (S&T), along with other officials of OIC General Secretariat and Mr. Aftab Zaidi, Director HR & Administration COMSTECH, also attended the meeting.

June 17, 2020: Coordinator General COMSTECH H. E. Prof. Dr. M. Iqbal Choudhary met with H. E. Mr. Muhammad Azam Khan Swati, Minister for Narcotics Control today morning in his office.