ISLAMABAD, Feb 18: Minister for Science and Technology Attaur Rehman will soon visit OIC member countries as an special envoy of President Musharraf to involve heads of the Islamic states in Comstech’s efforts.

“Prof Attaur Rehman will visit OIC member countries as my special emissary asking heads of states to put their shoulder behind the efforts for the development science and technology,” Mr Musharraf said in his speech at the concluding session of 10th meeting of the OIC Standing Committee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation (Comstech).

The president at the inaugural session had appealed to the Islamic countries to declare “Jihad-i-Akber” for the uplift of science and technology by generously contributing for creating a multi-billion dollars fund.

He had also announced $1 million for the fund. In response to the president’s appeal, the rest of the member countries announced a total contributions of $650,000.

Success of the projects developed by Comstech was depended upon the allocation of required funds from the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) and other institutions, he said.

He pointed out that Comstech in collaboration with the IDB had initiated projects to provide funds to young scientist for carrying out research activities.

The president thanked OIC Secretary General Abdelouhed Belkeziz for his cooperation in holding the two-day ministerial meeting of Comstech.