Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: The Commission on Science and Technology for Sustainable Development in the South (COMSATS) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Pacific Islands Development Forum (PIDF) in Islamabad. Under the agreement, both parties will collaborate in the form of joint research, strengthening of the centres of excellence and to support member countries through effective means of sustainable development.

The agreement, which aims at promoting science, technology and innovation (ST&I) to meet the sustainable development goals (SDGs), was signed among a gathering of diplomats of COMSATS’ member countries, vice chancellors of science and technology universities, representatives of various government officials and representatives of international organisations actively working in Pakistan, at a ceremony hosted by COMSATS.

COMSATS Executive Director Dr SM Junaid Zaidi and PIDF Secretary General Francois Martel signed the agreement on behalf of their organisations.

On the occasion, Ambassador Fauzia Nasreen, adviser at COMSATS Secretariat, described the importance of the cooperation between the commission and PIDF as a key way to explore possible avenues of collaboration with a particular focus on innovation. She emphasised on the importance of community-level development to achieve the sustainable development goals in member countries.

Pakistan’s High Commissioner to Australia Naela Chohan termed the agreement a positive step to explore possible areas for collaboration. She also thanked the executive director of COMSATS for his tremendous support and encouragement in the development of the linkage between the two organisations.

Francois Martel said that the cooperation between the COMSATS and the PIDF was a key step for south-south cooperation. He added that the cooperation was a clear message of friendship and hospitality between COMSATS, government of Pakistan and the PIDF.

Published in Daily Times, March 15^th 2018.