Past Events

International Turkic Academy and COMSTECH sign MoU at COMSTECH Secretariat on December 23 to strengthen cooperation and collaboration for the promotion of science & technology in OIC member states.

On the occasion of MoU signing ceremony, President of the Int’l Turkic Academy, Dr. Darkhan Kydyrali, appreciated COMSTECH for holding Al-Farabi forum successfully.

Dr. Kydyrali said that our relations are not only limited to the relations between institutions, we have great relationship between nations. He assured that on his return he will meet with the president of Kazakhstan to share these activities with him. He said we have signed many MoUs with different institutions of Pakistan. He said that he strongly believes that COMSTECH will play a strong role for further enhancing the Pak-Kazak relations.

Coordinator General COMSTECH, Prof. Dr. M. Iqbal Choudhary appreciated the organization of OIC Science Summit by Kazakhstan in 2017. He said that we will soon organize an international forum on Dr. Allama Muhammad Iqbal in collaboration with international Turkic Academy, Kazakhstan. Dr. Iqbal assured that we will be partner in these activities.

Both institutions have agreed to be engaged in various joint activities such as organizing forums on Al-Farabi, Allama Muhammad Iqbal, and Ulugh Beg Mirza and establishing Turkic Academy Library at COMSTECH and incorporating leading universities of Pakistan in the network of universities of International Turkic Academy.

The Turkic Academy was founded on 25 May 2010 at the Palace of Peace and Reconciliation in the capital of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Islamabad, January 1, 2021: Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital, Rawalpindi and COMSTECH — OIC Ministerial Standing Committee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation — Islamabad, signed an MoU to build capacity in ophthalmology and prevent blindness in OIC member states through providing training and conducting eye camps in different OIC member states.

The MoU ceremony held at COMSTECH headquarters and signed by Prof. Dr. M. Iqbal Choudhary, Coordinator General, COMSTECH and Maj. Gen. Rehmat Khan (R), President, Al- Shifa Trust Eye Hospital, Rawalpindi. The Vice-Chancellor of the University of The Gambia, Prof. Dr. Faqir Muhammad Anjum and Mr. Mohammad Adeel, Assistant Director, Science Diplomacy, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Pakistan were also present at the occasion.

According to the MoU, Pakistan Institute of Ophthalmology (PIO) the academic wing of Al- Shifa Trust Eye Hospital will impart training in ophthalmology, optometry and orthoptics, public health, ophthalmologists, ophthalmic technicians, bio-medical technicians, ophthalmic nurses and ophthalmic nursing assistants of OIC region.

Al-Shifa Trust eye hospital will offer observerships for 4-12 weeks and 1-year clinical fellowships to candidates from OIC countries in the subspecialties, such as cornea and refractive surgery, Vitreo-retina, Pediatric ophthalmology, Glaucoma and Orbit and Oculoplastic.

Al-Shifa center for community ophthalmology will carry out wide-spread outreach programs for the prevention of blindness in OIC member states. A delegation of highly qualified and experienced surgeons will be sent to the pre-selected OIC member states to undertake surgical camps for cataract as well as perform advanced surgical procedures for diseases such as Cornea, Glaucoma, Obits and Oculoplastic, Vitreo-retina, Pediatric eye disorders and, Ocular oncology.

Eye camps in Kampala, (Uganda) Niamy, (Niger) and Serrekunda, (Gambia) will be organized this year.

Special emphasis will be given to carry out research in areas of Ocular Epidemiological Studies, Ocular Imaging, Ocular Genetics, Data Analytics, Cytokines and Biomarkers for Ocular Pathologies, Clinical Trials, Clinical Studies and Ocular Therapeutics.

COMSTECH would provide Al-Shifa Trust support, cooperation, and collaboration for all activities planned and organized in OIC member states.

Mr. Ehsan Masood

Nature’s Editor for Editorials
2017/2018- Knight Science Journalism Fellow- Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Date and Time: 6^th January 2021; 03:00 pm Pakistan Standard Time; 02:00 pm Gulf Standard Time: 10:00 am Greenwich Mean Time

Blurb: The COVID-19 pandemic has propelled science communication from a relatively niche field into a mainstream topic. Researchers in all countries are at the heart of providing their peers, the public and policymakers with reliable information on a virus and a disease that has killed more than 1.7 million people. Citizens scroll incessantly to receive updates on case numbers. Journals are working overtime to publish, and regulators have green-lighted vaccines in record time. Ehsan Masood, an editor with the journal Nature in London, reflects on a year that has been unlike any other in his 25-year career in science communication. 

Target Audience: This webinar is open to academicians, scientists, and general public from all the member OIC states and beyond.

Profile of Speaker: Ehsan Masood is a science journalist. He is presently Nature’s Editor for Editorials and also has responsibility for the journal’s news coverage from Africa and the Middle East. He is the author of a a number of books including The Great Invention, a narrative history of how GDP became the world’s most influential economic indicator (Pegasus, 2016) and Science and Islam: A History (Second edition, Icon, 2017). He has also made documentaries on science and policy for BBC Radio 4 and was a 2017/2018 Knight Science Journalism Fellow at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Between 2007 and 2017 he taught science and innovation policy to students of science communication at Imperial College London. 

Poster of webinar:  Attached

Link for registration and E- certificate:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScI7xKuLCBEbzl-7WYrsaT_yMxOqmMvZtc5sBlhz_Bz1TwV6Q/viewform

Procedure to join:

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83678220335?pwd=QVNRMnprOE05ZnlOd0RHSldCNy80Zz09

Meeting ID: 836 7822 0335

Passcode: 960781

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

February 16-17, 2021

Organized by

COMSTECH, Secretariat, Islamabad In collaboration with International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences (ICCBS) and Pakistan Biotechnology Information Center (Karachi Chapter)

Who Should Attend:

The workshop is designed to address the interest of scientists and research scholars working in various fields of plant biotechnology including genetics, and molecular biology.

Course Content:

The course will be comprises of series of lectures and “online hands on training sessions” covering following contents:

• Overview of Plant Tissue Culture and its Applications
• Equipment and Media used
• Explant Selection
• Sterilization
• Initiation, Multiplication, Shooting and Rooting

Registration:

Registered participants will receive e-certificates

Please register at following link before February 1, 2020

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeovmmpAzzwPZNQj45KqmF_6UtN4d544QyPOFuuw0PvB0Ohkg/viewform

Venue:

Time: Feb 16, 2021, 12:00 Noon Islamabad, Karachi, Tashkent

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85102004262?pwd=NWRBMDZIUTdlUEtSQUFaZkNYMXZVdz09
Meeting ID: 851 0200 4262
Passcode: 208783

Time: Feb. 17, 2021 12:00 Noon Islamabad, Karachi, Tashkent

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88399839097?pwd=K3kwazhwWkN4aDN5MER2enl6ZDZ4dz09
Meeting ID: 883 9983 9097
Passcode: 881692

WORKSHOP PROGRAM (Pakistan Standard Time)

Day One (16 Feb., 2021)

12:00-12:05     Inauguration Ceremony

12:05-12:10     Recitation of the Holy Quran

12:10-12:20     Welcome Address by Prof. Dr. M. Iqbal Choudhary

12:20-13:00     Lecture 1 entitled, “Importance of Tissue Culture Techniques for the   Sustainable Development of Muslim World”

13:30-14:30   Practical Session (Tissue culture of Horticulture Crops)

Day Two (17 Feb., 2021)

12:00-12:35     Lecture 1 entitled, “Basic Tissue Culture Techniques and Their Applications”

12:40-13:10     Lecture 2 entitled, “Ethics and Biosafety in Plant Biotechnology”

13:10-14:10     Practical Session 2 (Tissue culture of Cash Crops (rice))         

14:15-14:35     Closing Ceremony

Speakers:

Prof. Dr. Behzad Ghareyazie
President, Biosafety Society of Iran.
Executive Director, Iran Biotechnology Information Center (IRBIC) Iran

Prof. Dr. Saifullah Khan
University of Karachi, Pakistan

Prof. Dr. Naagla Abdalla
Head Dept. of Genentics
Faculty of Agriculutre, Cairo University, Egypt

CONTACT PERSON

Khazima Muazim
Programme Manager
COMSTECH Secretariat, Islamabad
Tel: +92-51-9220681-3
Fax: +92-51-9205264, +92-51-9220265
Email: khazima@comstech.org

Organized by:

COMSTECH Secretariat, Islamabad in Collaboration with the International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences (ICCBS) Karachi, Pakistan

January 11-12, 2021

Molecular biology is an important area of interest for scientists working in various disciplines including structural biology, genetics, biochemistry, and biotechnology etc. Molecular biology plays important roles in understanding formations, actions, and regulations of various parts of cells which can be used to efficiently targets new drugs, diagnose diseases, and understand the physiology of the cell. This two-day online certificate course comprised of lectures followed by training sessions on “Basic concepts and techniques in molecular biology”. The course is designed to teach the basic skills of molecular biology to participants from all scientific disciplines those have little or no previous experience in molecular biology hands on work. It is also an ideal course for those who would like to consolidate their current, basic skill level and to further polish their handling skills.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND?

The course is designed for the large group of audience including graduate students, scientists, research scholars, and medical doctors those have interest to work at molecular level in related fields of molecular biology. People from variety of disciplines and academic backgrounds including Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Genetics, and Biotechnology can get benefit from this workshop.

WORKSHOP CONTENT

The program includes a series of online lectures and hands-on sessions on the following topics;

Basic Cloning Requirements

Polymerase Chain Reaction

Agarose Gel Electrophoresis

Extraction of DNA from Agarose Gel

Cloning and Expression Vectors

Preparation and Purification of Plasmid DNA

Restriction Digestion

Ligation

Transformation in Bacterial Cells

Expression and Purification

VENUE

Time: Jan 11, 2021, 12:00 PM Islamabad, Karachi, Tashkent

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82538415428?pwd=Nld0TGJaUlNyRWZ4V3gyTGhvODdYQT09

Meeting ID: 825 3841 5428

Passcode: 317300

Time: Jan 12, 2021 10:00 AM Islamabad, Karachi, Tashkent

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89263556753?pwd=UTd0RlJaODlEN1dvWGx4VUVwNXYxUT09

Meeting ID: 892 6355 6753

Passcode: 639724

WORKSHOP PROGRAM (Pakistan Standard Time)

Day One

12:00-12:05     Inauguration Ceremony

12:05-12:10     Recitation of the Holy Quran

12:10-12:20     Welcome Address by Prof. Dr. M. Iqbal Choudhary

12:20-13:30     Lecture 1 entitled, “General Molecular Biology Lab Techniques: Cloning, Restriction Digestion, Ligation, Transformation”

13:30-14:30   Practical Session (Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), Agarose Gel Electrophoresis, DNA Extraction)

Day Two

10:00-12:00     Practical Session 2 (Plasmid Prep, Restriction Digestion, Ligation, Transformation)

11:00-12:00     Practical Session 3 (Protein Expression)

12:00-12:15     Closing Ceremony

REGISTRATION PROCESS

Register at: https://forms.gle/8L1dGf5mMfzsPpA97 . Kindly fill the form and submit it before 8^th January, 2021. Registered participants will receive e-certificates.

CONTACT PERSON

Khazima Muazim
Programme Manager
COMSTECH Secretariat, Islamabad
Tel: +92-51-9220681-3
Fax: +92-51-9205264, +92-51-9220265
Email: khazima@comstech.org

Webinar on Status of STI in the OIC Region by His Excellency Prof. Dr. Adnan Badran

Date : 22nd June 2020,

Time: 03:00 pm Pakistan Standard Time ; 01:00 pm Jordan Standard Time; 10:00 am Greenwich Mean Time

Former Prime Minster, Jordan, Ex – Deputy Director General UNESCO Chancellor, University of Petra

International Seminar on COVID-19 Title: “Pakistan Randomized and Observational Trial to Evaluate Coronavirus Treatment (PROTECT)” By Prof. Dr. Ghazna Khalid

Date and Time: 5th June 2020, 3:00 pm PST through ZOOM Meeting

Title: “COVID-19 Epidemiology Evidence Based Policy and Prospects for Vaccine.” By Prof. Dr. Saad B. Omer

Date and Time : May 6, 2020 , 5:00 am EST (2:00 pm PST)

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 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 has appointed, Prof. Dr. M. Iqbal Choudhary as the Coordinator General of COMSTECH.

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.

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.

Title: “COVID-19 Epidemiology Evidence Based Policy and Prospects for Vaccine.”

By Prof. Dr. Saad B. Omer

Date and Time : May 6, 2020 , 5:00 am EST (2:00 pm PST)

Click here for Poster

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.

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.