ISLAMABAD: The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation’s Standing Committee on Science and Technological Cooperation (Comstech) approved on Tuesday a 10-year action plan for scientific development in the Muslim world.

The plan was approved at the first plenary session of 15th Comstech General Assembly held here with President Mamnoon Hussain in the chair. Prominent among the participants were OIC Secretary General Iyad Ameen Madani, President of the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) Dr Ahmed Mohamed Ali and Coordinator General of Comstech Dr Shaukat Hameed Khan.

The purpose of the plan is to promote science and technology in the Muslim world. As many as 159 leading scientists and thinkers of 20 OIC-member countries were involved in the preparation of the plan which also contains suggestions from developed countries.

An official of the presidency said that Pakistan was the permanent chairman of Comstech and the plan was prepared in two years.

Under the plan, different measures will be taken to promote science and technology in the Muslim world by giving ample opportunities to researchers and students. Financial assistance will be provided to researchers to carry out research in different fields of science and technology, training centres will be established and seminars and conferences will be held, particularly in those Muslim countries which are lagging behind in the field of science and technology.

The plan also envisages programmes of exchange of students, scholarship for deserving students and facilities of specialisation in science and technology.

During the meeting, President Hussain said that being chairman of Comstech, Pakistan was bearing the major load of finances required by the organisation. He urged the Muslim world, particularly rich Islamic countries, to contribute their due share in it.

Published in Dawn, June 1st, 2016