programs

To provide an additional opportunity for talented researchers from Islamic countries to apply for the available fellowships in Young Scientists’ Fellowship Program (YSFP), Mustafa^(pbuh) Science and Technology Foundation (MSTF), COMSTECH, and National University of Sciences & Technology (NUST) are pleased to announce an extension of the application deadline for the active program till January 31, 2025.

YSFP provides short-term fellowships to young scholars, technologists, and faculty members under 40 years of age. Applicants must hold at least a master’s degree. The duration of fellowships in this program is 6–12 months, which can be more or less depending on the conditions and requirements, with the agreement of the host.

The current program awards five fellowships to young scholars specializing in biotechnology, health, and ICT.

Return flight tickets, accommodation, and research expenses will be covered by the organizers.
For further information and online application, please visit: https://ysfp.mstfdn.org/nust-2024/

For further information, please visit: https://ysfp.mstfdn.org/nust-2024/

Contact Information: 

• haris@comstech.org

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

Scholarships and Research Fellowships for Syrian Nationals

APSUP, in collaboration with Syrian Embassy has proposed to launch a special program offering up to 200 scholarships and research fellowships and 1000 online Digital Skills/Online Diploma to students, scientists, engineers and technicians of the Syrian Arab Republic.

This program is a collaborative effort of the member institutions of COMSTECH Consortium of Excellence (CCoE), Association of Private Sector Universities of Pakistan (APSUP) and Syrian Embassy.

These scholarships and research fellowships will support Research fellowships and online diploma/Digital skills program for Scientists, Engineers and technicians of the Syrian Arab Republic.

Eligibility

• Syrian nationals residing in Syria (especially Earthquake struck areas)

Target beneficiaries

• Young researchers, scientists (enrolled in PhD, Masters, undergraduate programs or involved in active research) are eligible of this program.
• Technical personnel’s working for S&T and Engineering laboratories who need training to operate specialized equipment.

These scholarships and fellowships can be availed in the fields of Natural Sciences/ Applied Sciences/ Engineering and Technology, Computer Sciences, Software Engineering and Health sciences.

Selected candidates will study at Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs) of Pakistan (including Superior University Lahore, University of Sialkot, University of Faisalabad, University of Sargodha, Institute of south Punjab Multan)

Duration of Award

The duration of fellowship program is between 4 -12 months. Duration can be extended with mutual agreement of host institution and APSUP.

Digital skills/Online diploma program shall be offered virtually to the candidates for a period of 2 – 6 months. 

Benefits

Host institutions will provide accommodations to the students and cover bench fee.

Applications will remain open round the year.  Application should be submitted to Syrian embassy/Ministry of Higher education/ Higher Institute for Applied Sciences and Technology (HIAST) through email provided below. The Syrian embassy will send selected applications to COMSTECH for consideration.

Application Submission

Applicants are required to send an email of interest to the aforementioned along with below documents.

• Carefully filled Application form
• Scanned copy of your valid passport (page with your name and surname).

• Passport Size picture.
• Scanned copy of your education documents i.e. Matriculation & Intermediate certificates etc.

In case any of the above information is missing, your application will be considered incomplete.

For more information, please contact: 

syembassypk@yahoo.com, iucpss_pk@yahoo.com, maham.yamin@comstech.org

Call for application is open February 25, 2025

Joint S&T Cooperation Program

(Post-Doctoral Training)

Flyer: Click Here

Awardees of Hunan Technician Training Program- Batch 1: Click Here

List of Selected Participants COMSTECH – Hunan University of Chinese Medicine (HUCM) Joint S&T Cooperation- Technicians Training Program: Click Here

Background:

The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) consists of 57 countries, which accounts for 1.9 billion of the global population. A large number of these countries are faced with various challenges, such as poverty, food insecurity, climate change and lack of health facilities.

To overcome the lack of trained researchers in the OIC member states, COMSTECH (the Ministerial Standing Committee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation of the OIC) in collaboration with top ranked university of China, HUCM, is offering Post-Doctoral training to researchers/scientists of OIC on various medical and STEM fields for their S &T capacity building. It would be a great opportunity for the young researchers or early stage scientists of the OIC world to advance their research goals and diversify their skills before starting their professional career, while under the mentorship of an experienced Scientist of HUCM.

Through this collaboration, 10 doctoral Degree holders in STEM fields will be offered a Post-Doctorate fellowship at various research centers, and laboratories of HUCM for up to 2 years.

Eligibility Criteria:

• Candidate should hold a PhD degree in any STEM field such Biochemistry, Organic Chemistry, Phyto-chemistry, Pharmacology, Traditional Medicine, Allied Health Sciences, Biomedical Sciences, etc.
• Age limit is < 35 years.
• Nationals of OIC member and observer states can apply.
• Preference is given to women applicants and those working in Least Developed OIC Countries (LDCs) of the OIC member countries.

Benefits of Training:

• The research fellow/trainee will be provided with international low-cost airfare, visa fee by COMSTECH.
• HUCM will accommodation to incoming scholars / trainees.
• Trainees will be placed in the relevant laboratories in institution.

Application Procedure:

1. Applicant is required to submit, by email to khazima@comstech.org, the following items:

• Scanned copy of applicant’s valid passport
• CV, maximum three pages
• Supporting Statement from Head of Home Institution/Employer.
• Scans of relevant educational degrees/ transcripts

2. Closing date for applications is 25^th Feburary 2024 at 23:59 PKT.

Deadline for the Application: 2026

Flyer: Click Here

COMSTECH the Ministerial Standing Committee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation of the OlC (0rganization of lslamic Cooperation) and lda Rieu Schools for the Blind & Deaf have launched Special Teacher’s Training Program. This program is one of its kind in offering a dedicated 3 months training to special teachers by experts in this field. Special Education Teachers from all OlC member states (57 countries) can benefit from this program. This program was jointly discussed and agreed by Ms. Nadira Panjwani, HI, SI and Prof. Dr. M. Iqbal Choudhary, (Mustafa (PBUH) Prize Laureate, H. I, S. I, T. I, Coordinator General COMSTECH.

COMSTECH is the only OlC institution hosted by Government of Pakistan, presided by the President of Pakistan as Chairman of COMSTECH. COMSTECH was established in 1981. The core mandate of COMSTECH is to strengthen cooperation among OIC Member States in science and technology (S&T). The ultimate aim is to build and nourish a scientific culture in addition to using S&T as a major contributor to socio-economic development and rapid industrialization of member countries.

lda Rieu Schools for the Blind & Deaf are schools and colleges run by the lda Rieu Welfare Association. IRWA came into existence in 1922 in Karachi with the vision of imparting education and training to the blind and deaf children to make them useful citizens of community. Their mission is to nurture the intellectual and social skills of special children and enable them to cope with all challenges through education and training.

Eligibility:

This program is open for Nationals of OIC member and observer states with age limit of 28-40 years. Applicants holding teaching experience of 1-year at least/ relevant educational background will be given preference.

Benefit:

• Training is for a period of 2 months.
• COMSTECH will provide return economy class tickets to successful international applicants and will cover their visa fee.
• All research/learning/practice activities will be conducted in English.

Application Procedure:

Applicant is required to submit applications through this link. Click here for Application Form.

Closing date for applications is  15th February, 2026, at 23:59 PKT

Details of training will be shared with selected candidates through email.

About The Journal

Journal of Science Communication and Diplomacy is an open access, peer reviewed journal published biannually by COMSTECH and Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Pakistan. The journal publishes the research articles and op-eds in the areas of science communication and the diplomacy. The journal will cover all aspects of science communication and science diplomacy for the benefit of humanity.

Author’s Guideline

Researchers and scholars who wish to contribute article for publication to the JSC&D should send their original, unpublished articles in MS word file.

1. The paper should be submitted to cjscd@comstech.org
2. Paper can be submitted round the year
3. Author should submit her/his brief introduction along with a certificate that the research is not published elsewhere.

Structure of the Research Article

1.         Title (Must be relevant to the Journal’s theme)

2.         Author Name, Affiliation (if any), Email & Mobile Number

3.         Keywords (5 to 7)

4.         Abstract (between 200 to 250 words)

5.         Introduction (Up to 250 words)

6.         Literature Review

7.         Main body of the Article (3000-6000 words) including references.

8.         Conclusion

9.         References (APA format)

The submitted article will be subjected to peer review nationally or internationally. For plagiarism the article will be strictly scrutinized. Once the article is accepted it cannot be withdrawn or neither can be published in another journal.

Download Flyer

COMSTECH shares a long-standing brotherly relationship with Mauritania. In order to strengthen the ties and to build scientific capacity in Mauritania, COMSTECH and National Agency for Scientific Research and Innovation, Mauritania have joined hands to collaborate on the Joint S&T Capacity Building Program.

Under this bilateral program, COMSTECH initially announces the following initiative;

Research Fellowships:

Under the COMSTECH-Mauritania Program, Research Fellowships will be offered to young researchers and early stage scientists/engineers in Mauritania to enable them to spend 6 months at a relevant center of excellence in many listed institutions of OIC member states, especially Pakistan. The purpose of these fellowships is to enhance the research and development capacity of promising researchers and engineers from Mauritania at the beginning of their research career, helping them to foster linkages for further collaboration in their fields.

Benefits:

COMSTECH will provide economy class return air fare to the fellows. The offering institutions will provide boarding & lodging and free training/no bench fee.

Apart from the above programs, Mauritania students and scholars may also participate in other COMSTECH programs which are launched and publicized through COMSTECH website and social media. Similarly, the R&D institutions of Mauritania may collaborate with CCOE institutions for exchange of knowledge, expertise, technology and resources to develop their capacities and devise solutions.

Application Process:

Applications are invited from interested students, scholars and institutions in Mauritania for above program.

Click here for Application form.

Instructions:

The application form should be submitted by the candidate and each part should be answered completely and accurately.

Closing date for applications is Sunday 10 December at 23:59 GMT

After the closing date, COMSTECH and ANRSI will work with host institutions to accommodate as many applicants as possible in their respective fields of research.

Scholarships are for a period up to 6 months.

Host institutions will provide accommodation and access to lab/learning/practice facilities free of charge.

COMSTECH will provide return economy class tickets to successful applicants.

ANRSI will assist with the cost of living.

All research/learning/practice activities are conducted in English.

Host institutions are prestigious universities and research institutes in OIC Member States including Pakistan, Malaysia, Indonesia and Turkey

تم فتح باب التقديم للعام 2025

خلفية:

أدت الصراعات في جميع أنحاء العالم إلى نزوح ملايين الأشخاص، مما أدى إلى تأثير كبير على مسيرة البحث العلمي والتعليم العالي للمتضررين. النزاعات المسلحة والحروب الأهلية وعدم الإستقرار السياسي والإضطهاد كل هذه الظروف تجبر الناس على الفرار من منازلهم والبحث عن ملجأ في بلدان أخرى أو داخل حدودهم. العديد من اللاجئين كانت لديهم مساهمات في البحث العلمي أو التعليم العالي في بلدانهم الأصلية قبل النزوح. يعطل الصراع مشاريعهم البحثية ومسيراتهم الأكاديمية ومساهماتهم العلمية.

يهدف برنامج زمالات كومستيك للعلوم في المنفى إلى دعم العلماء النازحين واللاجئين للبقاء على إطلاع دائم في مجالاتهم، والحفاظ على وظائف ذات صلة هادفة، وأن يكونوا في وضع يسمح لهم بالمساعدة في إعادة بناء بلدانهم، بمجرد أن تسمح لهم الظروف بذلك. وحتى ذلك الحين يمكن لهؤلاء المهنيين أن يشكلوا أصولاً قيمة للبلدان التي يصلون إليها.

يهدف برنامج زمالات كومستيك للعلوم في المنفى إلى تزويد الباحثين والعلماء النازحين واللاجئين الذين لم يجدوا بعد بلدًا مضيفا آمنًا للبقاء به لفترة طويلة الأمد بفرصة لمتابعة دراساتهم / أبحاثهم في مؤسسات / جامعات إتحاد كومستك للتميز ( CCoE ). وفي هذا البرنامج سيتم تقديم 10 زمالات بحثية و10 زمالات بحثية أخري لما بعد الدكتوراه لعام 2024.

شروط المنحة الدراسية

• يجب على المتقدمين أن يكونوا من النازحين أو اللاجئين المختصين بالمجالات العلمية و العلماء:
  أ: يعيش حاليًا في أي دولة عضو في منظمة التعاون الإسلامي ويمتلك الحق في العيش والدراسة في البلد المعني. أو
  ب: لديه المقدرة على السفر إلى باكستان.
  يرجى ملاحظة أن البرنامج غير مناسب للباحثين المعرضين للخطر والذين يحتاجون إلى مساعدة محددة لمغادرة وطنهم. الفائزون مسؤولون عن ترتيب الخدمات اللوجستية والسلامة الخاصة بنقلهم.
• سيكون المسافرون من خارج باكستان مؤهلين للحصول على تذكرة طيران ذهابًا وإيابًا واحدة على الدرجة الاقتصادية طوال مدة الزمالة.
• المتقدمون الذين يحملون الجنسية أو الإقامة الدائمة في باكستان أو في بلدان ثالثة آمنة ليسوا مؤهلين للتقديم.
• الزمالة المقدمة مدتها ستة أشهر.
• بناءً على الطلب، قد توفر المؤسسات المضيفة إقامة مجانية لزملاء الأبحاث وزملاء أبحاث ما بعد الدكتوراه.
• لا يجوز للمتقدمين التقدم إلا للحصول على نوع واحد فقط من نوعي الزمالات المقدمة في إطار برنامج زمالات كومستيك للعلوم في المنفى .

تقديم الطلب

علي المتقدمين إكمال نموزج الطلب وإرساله إلى events@comstech.org .

يحتاج المتقدمون أيضًا إلى إرسال الوثائق التالية مع نموذج الطلب:

• نسخة ممسوحة ضوئيًا من جواز سفرك ساري المفعول.
• السيرة الذاتية كحد أقصى خمسة صفحات شاملة المنشورات.
• خطاب توصية من رئيس المؤسسة التي تعمل بها.
• رسالتى توصية من العلماء القدامى المطلعين على عملك. يرجى ملاحظة أن رئيس مؤسستك لا يمكن أن يكون أحد الموصيين.
• شهادة ماجستير / دكتوراه وتفاصيل الدرجات العلمية الجامعية.
• خطة بحثية مفصلة لمقترح البحث.

COMSTECH in collaboration of Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) and Layton Rahmatulla Benevolent Trust (LRBT) Pakistan has conducted three cataract surgery Campaigns in Niamey (Niger) and Ndjamena (Chad) . The overall objective was to combat avoidable blindness by delivering high quality and value for money cataract services that will eventually improves the vision related quality of life that can allow the patients to fully participate in social activities and reduced limitations in work-related activities.

The specific objectives were to:

• Provide free high-quality sight-restoring cataract surgeries in selected areas.
• Provide post-operative treatment.
• Reduce blindness related poverty and eliminate reliance on assistant of others
• Build the capacity of local health professional during the campaign (Nurses, Doctors and clinicians) to identify eye problem, screen, and provide care, which will include treatment and referral.
• Train local ophthalmologist on Phaco Alternative.

The purposes to conduct cataract surgery campaigns in Niger and Chad was to benefit the people who does not afford the fee of cataract surgery especially those who live in remote areas, to provide awareness using radios and TV to enhance the awareness of the community and train eye heath workers, especially ophthalmologists on using phaco alternative methods.

Teams of experienced ophthalmologists from Layton Rahmatulla Benevolent Trust (LRBT), Pakistan, conducted over 800 cataract surgeries, examination of post-operation patients and training workshops for local doctors with Phacoemulsification using the operation theater and other facilities available locally. Apart from clinics, the Pakistani teams also launched public awareness campaigns about eye health and visited local schools. All the consumables and medicines for these eye camps were transported from Pakistan.

LRBT is the largest NGO of Pakistan fighting blindness and transforming Lives. LRBT is committed to creating a better Pakistan by preventing the suffering caused by blindness and other eye ailments. LRBT provides state of the art comprehensive free eye-care in keeping with its tradition of excellence, efficiency and compassion for all. LRBT is present in all 4 provinces of Pakistan with a network of 19 fully-equipped Hospitals, 54 Primary-Eye-Care-Clinics and 4 Outreach Clinics.

The successful eye surgery campaigns in Niger and Chad by Pakistani doctors have widely appreciated by African Countries, and OIC-GS. The OIC Secretariat has now requested the COMSTECH to conduct similar Eye Camps and capacity building events in other African Countries i.e. Chad, Burkina Faso, Benin, Somalia, Uganda and other LDC OIC member states.

The IsDB has requested the COMSTECH to arrange training of African Eye Specialists in Glaucoma and Diabetic Retinopathy.  The COMSTECH in collaboration with LRBT has chalked out a detailed training program for African Doctors at LRBT Tertiary Eye Hospital, Karachi. The training will cover both medical and surgical aspects. They will be trained to conduct physical examination of outdoor patients through conventional diagnostic instruments i.e phoropter,, kerotometer, Binocular indirect and direct opthalmoscopes, Autorefractor, slitlamp bimicroscope, tonoref, lensometer, pychemeter  and retinoscopes etc.   screening, surgery, post-operation examination and follow-up. The LRBT tertiary care Eye Hospital, where the training is planned is accredited one and is equipped with latest instruments and equipment. The surgical training will cover techniques like ECCE, SICS, Trabeculectomy and Phaco emulsification. It would also include training in the use of Yag and Argon lasers.

Contact Info:

For any query, Please contact on the below given Email address or Landline number.

Mr. Abdul Haleem Asghar
Focal Person-Awards & Programs (Africa), COMSTECH
Tel: +92-51-9220681-3
Email: abdulhaleem@comstech.org

Mr. Umer Ali
Programme Officer,
Phone No. : 92 51 9220681-3
COMSTECH Secretariat, 33-Constitution Avenue, G-5/2, Islamabad, Pakistan
Email: umerali@comstech.org

.

• Brief Introduction of COMSTECH
• Need for COMSTECH- SAC
• Executive Summary
• Vision
• Mission
• LIST OF MEMBERS OF THE COMSTECH SCIENTIFIC ADVISORY COUNCIL (COMSTECH-SAC)
• MINUTES OF THE FIRST VIRTUAL MEETING OF THE COMSTECH SCIENTIFIC ADVISORY COUNCIL (COMSTECH-SAC) HELD ON 27 JANUARY 2021
• 2nd Meeting of the COMSTECH Scientific Advisory Council (COMSTECH-SAC)

Founded in 1981, COMSTECH is the OIC Ministerial Standing Committee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation and is based in Islamabad (Pakistan). It is the leading inter-governmental OIC organization responsible for science and technology in the OIC member countries. The General Assembly of COMSTECH meets biannually in Islamabad at the level of OIC Ministers responsible for S&T. COMSTECH works to strengthen cooperation among the OIC member states in science, technology and innovation (STI), and enhance their capacities in STI, as well as cultivate a culture of science appreciation in OIC societies. Part of COMSTECH’s role is to create an effective institutional structure for planning, research, development  and monitoring of scientific and technological activities at national, regional, and international levels; principally laying the foundation for COMSTECH-SAC and its perceived function.

The current global COVID-19 pandemic has been described as a ‘once in a hundred years emergency;’ an emergency that has highlighted the critical value of effective and integrated science advice mechanisms at all levels of the government, and in all countries. Managing the current acute response and the recovery, nationally and globally, will continue to require a range of evidence from the natural sciences, social sciences and the humanities for the next few years at least.

Needless to say, the above narrative is equally applicable to many chronic and regularly emerging quandaries; quantitative and qualitative in nature, that afflict the efficacy of the science, technology and innovation (STI) ecosystems in OIC countries, and indeed their capacity to harness the power of STI for socioeconomic progress and economic well-being.  Such obstacles include, inter alia, lack of comprehensive Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) policies, and strategies emanating therefrom, the dearth or inadequacy of resources, infrastructure and institutions, gender imbalance in Science and Technology, shortage of trained personnel, prohibitive costs of acquiring knowledge and technology, and barriers to the transfer of knowledge, personnel and technologies from developed countries.

COMSTECH aims to strengthen cooperation among the OIC Member States in science, technology and innovation (STI), and enhance their individual and collective capacities in STI, as well as cultivate a culture of science appreciation in all echelons of the OIC societies. In short, COMSTECH essentially works to harness the power of STI for socioeconomic progress, and economic well-being.

The COMSTECH Scientific Advisory Council (COMSTECH-SAC) 2020, is launched along the following guidelines

COMSTECH-SAC’s aims to become a forum for STI policy advisors and STI practitioners to share experience, build capacities, and primarily develop approaches to the use of scientific evidence in informing policy at all levels of government, primarily in OIC countries.

The COMSTECH-SAC shall be an advisory group of leading experts, nominated and invited by the Coordinator General COMSTECH to:

1. Upon the request of OIC member states, and the directive of the Coordinator General COMSTECH, assist OIC member countries to build up their science advisory capacity and develop appropriate science advisory mechanisms to complement their own national needs.
2. Propose a model STI advisory mechanism that COMSTECH can develop and promote and can be adapted by the OIC member countries.
3. Upon the request of OIC member countries, and the directive of the Coordinator General COMSTECH, offer advice and evidence-based counsel to member states of the OIC and OIC organizations on STI policies and activities.
4. Undertake reviews and consultations on national STI policies and strategies in OIC member countries.
5. Organize outreach meetings to share experiences and best practices in the domain of science advice to governments, policy-makers and other stakeholders, in cooperation with similar networks from around the world.