ISLAMABAD: President Dr Arif Alvi pointed out on Monday that the pace of scientific developments in the present era was so fast that it would widen the gap between the developed and developing Muslim countries if immediate and focused actions were not taken.

He identified the spirit of enquiry and boldness as characteristic of the Muslim scientists and philosophers in the glorious days of Muslim science and philosophy.

The President mentioned that the Comstech was the only major institution in Organisation Islamic Cooperation (OIC), established for the socio-economic development of the Ummah through the application of science and technology.

He urged the OIC member states to join hands with this prestigious institution and work together for the renaissance of the Ummah.

He said that Comstech is only institution of OIC hosted by Pakistan and lauded it efforts for promotion of scientific cooperation and the uplift of the OIC countries.

He made these remarks in his address to the inaugural session of the Global A-Farabi forum organised jointly by Comstech and the government of Kazakhstan.

The opening session was also addressed by the Comstech Coordinator General, Prof Dr M Iqbal Choudhary, the Assistant Secretary General of OIC, Ambassador Askar Mussinov, Dr. Darkhan Kydyrali, President International Turkic Academy and the Kazakhstan Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Berik Aryn.

All the speakers emphasized the need for the advancement of science and technology in the OIC member states and resolved to follow the tradition of the renowned Muslim scholar Abu-Nasr Al-Farabi to recapture the golden era of the Ummah.

The Comstech Coordinator General, Prof Dr M. Iqbal Choudhary in his address announced that Comstech and the Turkic Academy would continue the tradition set by this Global Al-Farabi Forum by organising similar forums on renowned Pakistani philosopher Allama Dr Mohammad Iqbal, in Turkmenistan, and on the eminent astronomer scientist Ulugh Beg in Uzbekistan.

In his address, the OIC assistant secretary general assured full support to the development of science and technology in OIC member states. President of International Turkic Academy Dr Darkhan Kydyrali appreciated Comstech for organising the forum on such a renowned scholar and resolved to take this tradition further and hold such forums on other renowned Muslim scholars.

Over 120 scholars from Pakistan, United Kingdom, Kazakhstan, Cameroon, Nepal, Somalia and Sudan are participating in this event.

The lectures would cover different aspects of the multi-faceted contributions of Al-Farabi as a philosopher and a scientist.

Published in Dawn, December 22nd, 2020