OIC-COMSTECH, HEC sign letter of agreement to strengthen academic collaboration with OIC member states

ISLAMABAD
The OIC Standing Committee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation (COMSTECH) and the Higher Education Commission (HEC) have signed a Letter of Agreement (LoA) to promote joint academic and scholarly activities, strengthen international academic linkages, and facilitate the participation of scholars and experts from Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) member states in academic activities at Pakistani universities.
The agreement was signed by Prof. Dr. Muhammad Iqbal Choudhary, Coordinator General, OIC-
COMSTECH, and Engr. Prof. Dr. Niaz Ahmad Akhtar, Chairman, Higher Education Commission Pakistan at OIC-COMSTECH Secretariat Islamabad.
The agreement aims to promote academic, scientific and scholarly collaboration through organizing lectures, seminars, workshops, expert talks, academic dialogues, institutional visits, and other mutually agreed capacity-building activities involving distinguished scholars, researchers and experts from OIC member states.
The agreement was initiated following the recent visit of the Coordinator General OIC-COMSTECH to theHEC Regional Centre Lahore and discussions with the Chairman HEC regarding enhancing cooperationbetween the two institutions.
Welcoming the high-level HEC delegation, Prof. Dr. Muhammad Iqbal Choudhary reaffirmed OIC-
COMSTECH’s commitment to promoting scientific cooperation, academic mobility and knowledge exchange across the Muslim world.
He offered COMSTECH’s support in arranging academic visits of leading experts, distinguished academics and scholars from OIC member states to Pakistani universities to facilitate knowledge sharing, joint research and institutional collaboration. Speaking on the occasion, Prof. Dr. Niaz Ahmad Akhtar appreciated the significant contribution of OIC- COMSTECH to the advancement of science and technology across OIC member states.
He observed that collaboration between COMSTECH and HEC would be highly beneficial in strengthening academic partnerships between Pakistani universities and higher education institutions from other OIC member states. During the meeting, it was also decided to celebrate the achievements and contributions of prominent Muslim scientists, recognizing their historic and contemporary role in advancing science, technology, innovation and human development.
The initiative is expected to highlight the scientific heritage of the Muslim world, inspire young researchers and students, and encourage greater interest in scientific research and innovation. Under the agreement, OIC-COMSTECH will also facilitate visits of experts and scholars from OIC members states while HEC will extend local hospitality to the visiting scholars.
Senior officials from HEC and OIC-COMSTECH attended the signing ceremony, including HEC Members Prof. Dr. Habib Ali Bokhari, Prof. Dr. Shahiq-ur-Rehman, Dr. Nasir Mahmood, Advisor, and HEC. Prof. Dr. Ali Nasir, Dr. Javed Iqbal, Director, HEC Regional Centre Lahore; and Muhammad Murtaza Noor, Focal Person/Coordinator, CCoE and Outreach, OIC-COMSTECH.
The agreement marks another step towards strengthening Pakistan’s academic engagement with the wider Muslim world and creating new opportunities for universities, researchers and students to benefit from international expertise, collaborative research, scholarly exchange and capacity-building initiatives.