DNA
ISLAMABAD
The Executive Director of the Commission on Science and Technology for Sustainable Development in the South (COMSATS), Dr. S. M. Junaid Zaidiin a meeting with the Federal Minister for Science and Technology, Mr. Chaudhry Fawad, briefed about the ongoing programmes and activities of COMSATS in various fields of science and technology for the benefit of its Member States, including Pakistan. Mr. Fawad who is also the ex-officio Chairperson of COMSATS’ Consultative Committee.
The meeting was also attended by Capt. (R) Nasim Nawaz, Secretary Science & Technology,Dr. Abidi, Member (Science and Technology), MoST; Dr. Ahsan Feroze, Director (IL), Pakistan Science Foundation; and other high officers of COMSATS Secretariat and Ministry of Science and Technology.
Dr. Zaidimade a detailed presentation on COMSATS and its programmes. He informed that COMSATS,being an inter-governmental organization based in Islamabad, is the apex forum of science and technology forthe developing countries represented by Heads of State/Government in the Commission.
Other important organs of the organization are Minister-level Consultative Committee; Heads of Centers of Excellence-level Coordinating Council; and Technical Advisory Committee.
It was informed that Hon. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo (President ofthe Republic of Ghana)is the current Chairperson of COMSATS, which currently has 27 Member States and a Network of 24 International S&T Centres of Excellence.
The Executive Director apprised the Hon. Minister regarding the capacity building programmes, International Thematic Research Groups (ITRGs),South-South & Triangular cooperationendeavors; national, regional andinternational collaborations; scholarship&fellowship programmes, etc.
He stated that despite having limited resources, COMSATS has made enormous contributions in the fields of science and technology in Pakistan via its flagship projects including COMSATS University Islamabad (CUI – established in 1998 that is a leading educational institution in Pakistan); COMSATS Internet Services (CIS – established in 1996 as pioneer internet services provider in Pakistan); and COMSATS Telehealth Services (CTH – initiated in 2001 as pioneer e-health service in Pakistan).
