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KARACHI: Ten Middle Eastern and Central Asian countries, who are members of the Economic Cooperation Organisation (ECO), have decided to establish the ECO Science Foundation to foster science and development among the member nations.
This was decided during a visit by the Secretary General ECO Muhammad Yahya Maroofi to the Pakistan Science Foundation (PSF),According to Fatih Unlu, the ECO deputy secretary general, currently five member states – Iran, Pakistan, Azerbaijan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan – are part of the ECO science foundation, but soon five more ECO member states namely, Turkey, Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan are expected to join the science foundation.
Although the ECO secretariat is based in Iran, the ECO Science Foundation will be housed in the PSF building in Pakistan. The next meeting of the board of trustees, which mainly comprises the ministers of science, will be held in first week of April 2011 in Islamabad.
“The ECO Science Foundation will promote joint research projects and capacity building in the region, encourage fellowships and provide scholars’ exchange programmes,” said Unlu.
Unlu further added that initially only Pakistan, Iran and Turkey will equally contribute towards the science and technology fund, while other member states will contribute on a voluntary basis. The headquarters for the foundation will also rotate to other member states.
Commenting on the possible role of COMSTECH – the science and technology organization comprising 57 Islamic countries – Unlu stated that the foundation will join hands with COMSTECH while the Islamic Development Bank will provide soft loans for various projects in the future.
According to the official press release, the first Board of Trustees meeting will work on the initial agenda, a working formula, draft rules, draw up a list of 2011-12 programmes and make appointments to the ECO Science Foundation – making it functional.
Talking to Dawn.com, Dr Manzoor Hussain Soomro stated that while ECO will work within its own framework, COMSTECH is willing to collaborate with it. Whether any steps were being taken to popularise science in the region, Dr. Soomro said that the ECO has already signed an MOU with UNESCO to promote science and technology awareness.
“Pakistan Science Foundation is also a focal point for the ECO Science Foundation,” he added.
