Standing Committee for Scientific and Technological Cooperation (COMSTECH) is one of four standing committees of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation dedicated to the promotion and cooperation of science and technology activities among the OIC member states. [1]
COMSTECH was established by the OIC's Islamic Summit in Mecca on 1981 and comprises the OIC member states for the sake of building on indigenous capabilities in science and technology, promotion and cooperation in relevant areas, and establishment of institutional structure for planning and development at Ummah level.
Their stated objectives are:
The Inter-Library Resource Network Service is a programme that networks libraries of the OIC member states, requiring all member institutions to provide free access to the users of other members. [2]
In 2007 the journal holdings of 45 libraries from 15 OIC members had been networked, [2] and the same figures were reported in early 2009. [3] As of 2009 [update] , COMSTECH lists the following 48 libraries as part of the network: [4]
Transport in Pakistan is extensive and varied, and serves a population of over 212.2 million people. In recent years, new national highways have been built, with the addition of motorways which have improved trade and logistics within the country. Pakistan's rail network owned by Pakistan Railways is also undergoing expansion in recent years. Airports and seaports have been built with the addition of foreign and domestic funding.
The National University of Computer and Emerging Sciences (NUCES), also known as Foundation for Advancement of Science and Technology (FAST), is a private research university with multiple campuses in different cities of Pakistan.
Bahria University is a public-sector university established in 2000 by the Pakistan Navy at Shangrilla Road, Sector E-8/1 in Islamabad, Pakistan. The university maintains campuses in Karachi and Lahore.
Atta-ur-Rahman, is a Pakistani organic chemist and is currently serving as Professor Emeritus at the International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences at the University of Karachi and as Chairman of PM Task Force on Science and Technology. He has twice served as the President of Pakistan Academy of Sciences. He was the Federal Minister of Science and Technology (2000-2002), Federal Minister of Education (2002) and Chairman Higher Education Commission with status of Federal Minister (2002-2008) He is also the President of the Network of Academies of Sciences in Countries of the Organisation of Islamic Countries (NASIC). After returning to Pakistan from Cambridge after completing his tenure as Fellow of Kings College, Cambridge University, he contributed to the development of the International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences at the University of Karachi, and transforming the landscape of higher education, science and technology of Pakistan. He is Fellow of Royal Society (London) and Life Fellow of Kings College, Cambridge University, UK.
Anwar Nasim is a Pakistani molecular biologist and geneticist who was the president of Pakistan Academy of Sciences from 2015–2017. He currently resides in Toronto, Canada.
Shahid Kamal is a retired Pakistani career diplomat. Over his career, he worked in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Prime Minister’s Office, United Nations, Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and Pakistani diplomatic missions in Paris, New York, Washington, Stockholm and Berlin.
Tariq Rahman is a Pakistani academic scholar, newspaper columnist, researcher, and a writer.
Pakistan continues to enjoy a privileged status in the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation. In terms of population, it is the OIC's second largest member. Pakistan is the only Muslim country to have detonated nuclear weapons, has the sixth-largest standing military force in the world and a large labour workforce working in various Muslim countries.
Naeem Ahmad Khan, FPAS, was a Pakistani nuclear physicist and a professor of physics who was known for his work in developing techniques using the solid-state nuclear track detector and solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance. Although he worked with the Government of Pakistan for most of his career, he also taught physics at a number of Pakistani universities and was the civilian scientist of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) until his death.
Mumtaz Ali Kazi, popularly known as M.A. Kazi, was one of Pakistan's leading scientists and educators. He was President of the Pakistan Academy of Sciences from 1978 to 1988 and President of the Chemical Society of Pakistan from 1977 to 1990.