Comstech for promotion of S&T in Muslim world
ISLAMABAD- Prof. Ata-ur-Rehman, Federal Minister for Science and Technology and Coordinator General COMSTECH, said in his presentation to President General Pervez Musharraf that COMSTECH is actively working for the promotion of science and technology in the Muslim world.
Highlighting the achievements of COMSTECH he said that the main dimensions of the operations of COMSTECH have been drastically changed in the recent years and it has now become a science and technology implementing agency, promoting scientific and technology Cooperation and coordination in the Muslim world.
Prof. Ata informed the President that COMSTECH has initiated a number of new programs to help member countries. B
These include visiting Scientists Programme, Visiting Profession ship Programme, COMSTECH Travel Grants Programme, Technicians Training Programme, COMSTECH Spare Parts Programme, Bilateral Cooperation Programme, Conference Cooperation Programme, Conference to sponsorship Programme, Science Projects Funding Programme, Support for Workshops and Seminars, COMSTECH Digital Library (Free Literature Search Service), Inter-Library Network Service and analytical Service Network, Some of these programs are being conducted in collaboration with international agencies, said the Minister.
Prof. Ata informed the President that the largest digital library of Muslim world has been established in Muslims World. This library, he said, covers literature in Agricultural Science, Biological Sciences Environmental Sciences, Life Sciences, Physical, Chemical and Earth Sciences, and Engineering and Computer Sciences: From March 1999 to October 2001, COMSTECH Literature Search Service returned 4.86 GB of data (equivalent to about 2.4 million pages of A-4 size text 4,000 pages daily) to researchers from countries across the Muslim world.
Other main projects of COMSTECH include publication of four profiles of the Muslim world. Other projects include, establishment of Islamic networks for Water Resources (Jordan), Biotechnology (Egypt), Renewable Energy (Pakistan), Oceanography (Turkey), Space Science (Pakistan) and Tropical Medicine (Malaysia).
The President was informed that in the file of information Technology, COMSTECH has established centers in Syria, Pakistan, Sudan, Maldives and Sierra Leone.
The Islamic Development Bank has been collaborating with COMSTECH in projects worth US $3.14 million, which include Research Project Support to Young Scientists, M.Sc. scholarship programme in science and technology least developed Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) member states (190 scholarships).
Member states which are benefited from research project assistance from COMSTECH includes: Benin, Burina Paso, Bangladesh, Cameroon, Egypt, Gambia, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Mali Mauritania, Morocco, Nigeria; Pakistan, Senegal, Sudan, Sierra Leone, Tongo, Tunisia and Uganda.
The President of Pakistan General Pervez Musharraf who is also the Chairmen of COMSTECH greatly appreciated the new initiative undertaken by the COMSTECH under the direction of Coordinator General COMSTECH and recommended enhancement of recurring grant of COMSTECH so that it could aggressively pursue its objectives.
Source: Business Recorder
Date:11/23/2001
” 
” 
” 
” 
