ISLAMABAD, Feb 03 (APP): The Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Mr Mirza Sayasat Nurbek Tuesday visited the Secretariat of the OIC-COMSTECH to explore expanded cooperation in science, technology, and higher education among OIC member states and Pakistan.
He was accompanied by presidents and rectors of leading Kazakh universities.
The delegation was received by the Federal Minister for Science and Technology, Khalid Hussain Magsi, Secretary Science and Technology Mr Shahid Iqbal Baloch, Coordinator General OIC COMSTECH Prof. Dr. M. Iqbal Choudhary and senior officials at the COMSTECH Secretariat in Islamabad.
Welcoming the delegation, Prof Choudhary highlighted the growing importance of science diplomacy, saying partnerships and collaborative platforms were increasingly shaping the global scientific landscape.
He said Kazakhstan was playing a central role in the science and technology landscape of the OIC region and had contributed to key initiatives, including the STI Agenda 2026 and international scientific forums honouring Muslim scholars such as Abu Nasr Al-Farabi and Allama Muhammad Iqbal.
Prof. Choudhary appreciated Kazakhstan for hosting the Islamic Organization for Food Security and noted that his engagement with the country spanned more than two decades.
Referring to future cooperation, he said COMSTECH had launched a number of joint initiatives through close coordination with Kazakhstan’s diplomatic mission, aimed at capacity-building, research linkages and academic networking.
Prof. Choudhary also outlined priority areas of mutual interest, including biotechnology, digitisation and artificial intelligence, environment, agriculture, and innovation-driven research.
He noted Kazakhstan’s increasing investment in science and technology, expansion of international partnerships, progress in higher education, and development of indigenous scientific capabilities such as vaccine research and digital infrastructure.
Speaking on the occasion, Khalid Magsi described Kazakhstan as an active and valued partner of COMSTECH and recalled that cooperation dated back to 1996 with the establishment of the Pakistan–Kazakhstan Revolving Fund. Under the programme, more than 100 Kazakh scholars completed PhDs at Pakistani universities and participated in joint research.
The federal minister said Kazakhstan had consistently participated in COMSTECH-led initiatives, including scientific forums, university networking, and collaborative research in food security, biotechnology, agricultural sustainability, health sciences and digital innovation.
He also referred to joint efforts on biosafety and biosecurity, including an international seminar co-organised in Islamabad based on a Kazakh initiative presented at the United Nations.
Highlighting the importance of science for development, the Khalid Magsi said countries such as Pakistan and Kazakhstan must allocate greater resources to research and innovation, adding that Pakistan remained committed to using science and technology for economic progress and poverty alleviation.
Kazakhstan Minister, Sayasat Nurbek appreciated the leadership of Prof Choudhary in promoting scientific cooperation through COMSTECH and acknowledged the organisation’s role in strengthening research capacity and academic linkages across the Muslim world.
He expressed Kazakhstan’s readiness to further expand cooperation with COMSTECH in higher education, research partnerships, innovation, and academic xchange.
He thanked the Government of Pakistan and COMSTECH for the warm hospitality extended to his delegation.
The meeting concluded with both sides agreeing to enhance institutional linkages, capacity-building programmes, and joint research initiatives to address shared challenges in science, technology, and higher education.
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