WASHINGTON: Pakistan and the United States extended on Wednesday their agreement for cooperation in science and technology for another five years.

Pakistan’s US envoy Masood Khan and US State Department’s Director Office of Science and Technology Cooperation Jason Donovan witnessed the ceremony.

Mr Muhammad Saad Ahmed, on behalf of government of Pakistan, and Ms Michelle Sheckells from the US State Department, exchanged the documents.

The purpose of the agreement is to strengthen scientific, technological and engineering capabilities of the parties, to broaden and expand relations between the extensive scientific and technological communities of both countries, and to promote scientific and technological cooperation for peaceful purposes.

The two sides will cooperate through exchange of scientific and technical information; exchange of scientists and technical experts and convening of joint seminars and meetings.

The agreement also facilitates training of scientists and technical experts, joint research projects and educational exchanges related to science, technology and engineering.

The two sides will also establish science-based public-private partnerships; and will facilitate other forms of scientific and technological cooperation.

The Agreement on Science and Technology Cooperation between the two governments was signed on June 25, 2003, and it has been extended after every five years since then.

Welcoming the extension of the agreement, Ambassador Masood Khan said that the arrangement would serve as a framework for promoting cooperation between scientists, engineers and technology experts of the two countries to address challenge pertaining to climate change, energy, agriculture and IT.

He expressed the hope that collaborative environment in science and technology would pave the way for a comprehensive dialogue between the two countries to forge a strong partnership in science and technology.

Published in Dawn, October 19th, 2023