H. E. Prof. Dr. M. Iqbal Choudhary, Coordinator General COMSTECH called on H. E. Mr. Zéner J. Caro González, Ambassador of the Republic of Cuba to Pakistan at Cuban Embassy Islamabad on 27th April, 2021.
Dr. Choudhary had a detailed discussion on introducing the services of Cuban healthcare system through the COMSTECH platform in African OIC member states.
Dr. Choudhary handed over a detailed draft to the Ambassador to enhance the Cuban Government’s expertise, experience, linkages, partnerships and cooperation with 57 OIC member states through COMSTECH distinguished scholars programme.
Expressing satisfaction over Dr. Choudhary’s ideas, the Ambassador assured that we are ready to share our expertise with all OIC member countries, including African member states in every field through COMSTECH platform.
Mr. Haleem Asghar was also present in the meeting.
Dr. Faiq Bilal former Director Science, ISESCO & Consultant IBM, Canada, and Mr. Tajammul Hussain, Advisor Programmes, COMSATS had a meeting with Prof. Dr. M. Iqbal Choudhary, Coordinator General, COMSTECH on Feb. 18. 2021 at COMSTECH.
1st meeting of MoU follow up held at COMSTECH on Feb. 17, 2021 between Prof. Dr. M. Iqbal Choudhary, Coordinator General, COMSTECH and Maj. Gen. Rehmat Khan (R), President Al-Shifa Trust along with their team members to discuss practical steps for implementation of the MoU signed by the both organizations on January 1, 2021.
Pandemic has taught us a lesson that “no one will come to help us in global crises”. A nation of 220 million people can not rely on others for literally everything, said Prof. Dr. M. Iqbal Choudhary, Coordinator General, COMSTECH in his inaugural address of the national seminar on ‘Global, strategic and socio-economic impacts of COVID-19 and Paistan’ organized by National Defence University.
The keynote address of the session was delivered by the Chief Guest, General Nadeem Raza, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee.
Dr. Choudhary said that without indigenous science and technology capacity and its linkages with the industry, we will remain dependent on others. Public health care have strategic importance, technology development to fight pandemics will help us in bio-risk management and national biosecurity, he highlighted.
Dr. Choudhary said that Pakistan has the highest load of viral diseases in the world, very few trained professionals in the field, almost no instutional infrastructure in virology and vaccine development.
He said COVID-19 is here to stay and it is fast mutating, creating a need of constant nation-wide genomic surveillance. Our access to vaccines will remain limited, and we would need new vaccines every year, some especially designed for our own mutants.
To meet these current and future challenges, Dr. Choudhary suggested to invest more in health care research. Train at least 1000 young scientists and health professionals in virology research and clinical practices, and strengthen existing virology laboratories. He emphasized the establishment of BSL-4 high-containment lab at national institute of virology, Karachi and at least one high tech viral disease diagnostic set up in each provincial and national capital. Dr. Choudhary also suggested the establishment of ‘National Disease Surveillance Center’ with sample collection units in all major tertiary care hospitals. He stressed the need of setting up of “One Health Institute” to coordiante research on human and animal-borne virus outbreaks
Dr. Choudhary said that we should develop academic and research linkages with virology and genomic research institutions in China under the CPEC programs. He said that indigenous vaccine, biologicals, and diagnostic development and production facilities may be granted a long term tax holoday along with buy back guarantee. He suggested the establishment of consortium of civil-military R&D institutions with clear plan, deliverable and funding mechanism.
Prof. Dr. Khalid Saeed Khan and Prof. Hasan Abbas Zaheer visited COMSTECH and had meeting with Prof. Dr. Muhammad Iqbal Choudhary, Coordinator General, COMSTECH on Jan. 22, 2021.
Right to left: Prof. Dr. M. Iqbal Choudhary, Prof. Dr. Khalid Saeed Khan, Prof. Hasan Abbas Zaheer.
H.E. Mr. Adam M. Tugio, Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia, visited COMSTECH Headquarters. Prof. Dr. M. Iqbal Choudhary, Coordinator General COMSTECH warmly received him and gave him a tour to the COMSTECH facility. Dr. Iqbal briefed him on the state-of-the-art facilities available at COMSTECH headquarters.
The Coordinator General took His Excellency to the poster exhibition site and highlighted the current economic status of Indonesia by describing him the poster of Indonesia displayed there. COMSTECH has prepared one poster of each OIC member state highlighting key socio-economic, and scientific development indicators.
Prof. Choudhary briefed the Ambassador on the current COMSTECH activities and future programmes and vision for the socio-economic uplift of the OIC member states by the application of modern technologies. Prof. Choudhary requested the Excellency to arrange visits of OIC scholars to OIC center of excellence in vaccine technology in Bandung, Indonesia. The Ambassador proposed to organize exhibitions of technologies developed in leading OIC countries to fight against COVID-19 pandemic. He also proposed to collaborate in the applications of IT-based technologies for the effective vaccination process.
H.E. Mr. Adam, appreciated the current programmes of COMSTECH and the vision for the future. Prof. Choudhary presented a shield of memento to the Ambassador.
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.
Dr. Shahid Mehmood Baig, Chairman, Pakistan Science Foundation paid visit to COMSTECH headquarters and had a meeting with Prof. Dr. M. Iqbal Choudhary, Coordinator General, COMSTECH on January 1, 2021.
The Vice Chancellor of the largest university of the west Africa — the University of The Gambia (UTG) — Prof. Dr. Faqir Muhammad Anjum, had a meeting with H.E. Prof. Dr. M. Iqbal Choudhary, Coordinator General COMSTECH, on 31st December 2020, at COMSTECH headquarters.
The meeting was organized in continuation of collaboration between COMSTECH and the University of the Gambia to start numerous capacity building initiatives between the two institutions like holding training workshops in the fields of biotechnology and nanotechnology and the establishment of Virology center in University of The Gambia.
A detailed discussion was held on the various programmes and new initiatives of COMSTECH. Coordinator General COMSTECH informed the VC, UTG about the establishment of COMSTECH Consortium of Excellence and its programmes including scholarship program for which number of faculty members of UTG has applied and will be given an opportunity to enhance skills in their respective fields.
Dr. Faqir recommended the Coordinator General COMSTECH to host a ministerial level meeting of COMSTECH, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Pakistan, and the Ministry of Science and Technology, Gambia to seek avenues and further enhance science and technology engagement between Gambia and Pakistan.
At this occasion, Porf. Dr. M. Iqbal Choudhary, Coordinator General COMSTECH presented the shield of memento to the Vice Chancellor of the University of The Gambia, Prof. Dr. Faqir Muhammad Anjum.
