President Mamnoon Hussain, in his first-ever visit to Kazakhstan, urged the Muslim world to work collectively for the development of science and technology in order to meet the challenges of modern times, Radio Pakistan reported on Sunday.

Hussain is heading a Pakistani delegation at the two-day Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) summit on Science and Technology in Astana, the Kazakh capital, where heads of state and government from over 20 Muslim countries have gathered.

The president is participating as the chairman of the OIC Standing Committee on Science and Technology, according to a Foreign Office (FO) handout.

At the summit, Hussain emphasised the need for leaders of the Muslim world to improve agricultural production and develop the agricultural technology sector.

He was of the view that it would be possible to focus on higher education and research in emerging areas of science and technology once there is a solid foundation of educated, skilled and healthy manpower.

President Hussain regretted that the Muslim world had failed to pay attention to the education sector for the past several centuries and highlighted the need for the Muslim bloc to be self-sufficient in the political and socio-economic sectors.

He stressed the need for unity among the Muslim world, terming it imperative for development, prosperity and a safe future for the new generation.

Participants at the summit are expected to adopt the Astana Declaration and the OIC Action Plan for the next 10 years, the FO said.

During his four-day stay in Astana, Hussain is to hold a range of bilateral meetings with several heads of state, he added, and will also attend and informal meeting of OIC leaders on the situation of the Rohingya Muslim minority.

The occasion "will provide opportunities to review bilateral relations and exchange views on regional and international issues of mutual interest", the handout said.

The president will also interact with Pakistani scientists and intelligentsia based in Astana, the press release said.