HEC, COMSTECH sign pact to boost academic collaboration with OIC states

ISLAMABAD, Nov 03 (APP):Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan and the OIC Standing Committee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation (COMSTECH) have signed a Letter of Agreement (LoA) to strengthen academic, scientific and scholarly collaboration between Pakistani universities and OIC Member States. The agreement was signed by Chairman HEC Engr. Prof. Dr. Niaz Ahmad Akhtar and Coordinator General OIC-COMSTECH Prof. Dr. Muhammad Iqbal Choudhary at the COMSTECH Secretariat, Islamabad. According to HEC, the partnership will facilitate academic visits of distinguished scholars and experts from OIC Member States to Pakistani universities, promote joint lectures, seminars, workshops, research and knowledge exchange, while HEC will extend local hospitality to visiting scholars. The two institutions also agreed to celebrate the achievements of prominent Muslim scientists to highlight the scientific heritage of the Muslim world and inspire young researchers and students. Senior officials and HEC Members attended the signing ceremony, marking another step towards strengthening Pakistan's academic linkages with the wider Muslim world. The collaboration is expected to enhance people-to-people contacts, joint research projects and academic mobility between Pakistan and OIC countries. Officials said the initiative will help promote science and technology cooperation and project the contributions of Muslim scientists to global knowledge, while providing Pakistani universities greater exposure and international networking opportunities. The agreement will be implemented through coordinated efforts of HEC and COMSTECH in the coming months.