Annual Report 2017

Commission on Science and Technology for Sustainable Development in the South (COMSATS) Annual Report 2017 The Gambia Somalia Turkey ANNUAL REPORT 2017 Commission on Science and Technology for Sustainable Development in the South (COMSATS) Hon. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo President of Ghana Chairperson COMSATS Hon. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo became the 13th President of the Republic of Ghana after winning the country’s Presidential Election 2016. On 7th January 2017, he took charge as the President of Ghana, by virtue of which he is an ex-officio Chairperson of COMSATS. The Chair of COMSATS was rotated in 2012 from Pakistan to Ghana through consensus among the members of COMSATS’ Commission at its 2nd General Meeting held in Islamabad. The Chair was later passed on to Mr. Akufo- Addo by his predecessor, Mr. John Dramani Mahama. As a lawyer, Mr. Akufo-Addo worked to champion the cause of human rights, rule of law, justice, freedom, and democracy in Ghana. H.E. Mr. Shahid Khaqan Abbasi Prime Minister of Pakistan Head of the Host Country, Pakistan Mr. Shahid Khaqan Abbasi is the incumbent Prime Minister of Pakistan. He has been holding the office since 1st August 2017. Prime Minister Abbasi plans to bring reforms in the education, health, and developmental sector to help Pakistan progress socially and economically. His Excellency has taken steps for cementing bilateral relations with other countries as well as devised effective policies for the reinforcement of Pakistan’s economy. Editors Ms. Farhana Saleem Ms. Sameen Ruqia Imadi Designing & Development Mr. Imran Chaudhry Special Acknowledgement Mr. Tila Mohammed Ms. Huma Balouch Ms. Isra Mahmood Table of Contents COMSATS Profile i Foreword iii Message from the Head of COMSATS’ Focal Ministry in the Host Country v From the Chairperson Consultative Committee vii From the Chairperson Coordinating Council ix 1. ACTIVITIES OF COMSATS’ STATUTORY BODIES 01 2. MAJOR SECRETARIAL ACTIVITIES 15 3. ACTIVITIES OF COMSATS CENTRES OF EXCELLENCE 21 4. STRENGTHENING TRIANGULAR COOPERATION: COLLABORATIONS WITH 53 NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS 5. STRENGTHENING SOUTH-SOUTH COOPERATION: MEETINGS WITH OFFICIALS 65 FROM THE SOUTH 6. INTERNATIONAL VISITS OF SECRETARIAT OFFICIALS 77 7. S&T EVENTS ORGANIZED WITH COMSATS SUPPORT 87 8. SPECIAL ASSIGNMENTS 97 9. PUBLICATIONS AND INFORMATION DISSEMINATION 105 10. FINANCIAL AFFAIRS 111 ORGANOGRAM CHAIRPERSON (President of the Republic of Ghana) Secretariat/ COMMISSION Executive Director (Heads of Member States/Governments) GENERAL MEETING Network of Centres of Excellence Consultative Committee - Coordinating Council - Technical Advisory Committee Board of Management - Board of Governors - COMSATS Management COMSATS Internet COMSATS Institute of Committee Services (CIS) Information Technology (CIIT) COMSATS’ PROFILE The Commission on Science and Technology OBJECTIVES for Sustainable Development in the South (COMSATS) was established in October 1994 as The major objectives and functions of COMSATS an international/intergovernmental organization as given in its Statutes are: to act as a global forum of developing countries for their sustainable socio-economic uplift • To sensitize the countries in the South to the through the applications of science and centrality of science and technology in the technology. COMSATS’ current membership development process, to the adequate resource includes 26 countries located in the continents allocation for research and development, and of Africa, Asia, Latin America (and Eurasia), to the integration of science and technology in representing a population of over one-third of the the national and regional development plans; world’s total. • To support the functioning and activities of the Network of International Science These countries have diverse social, cultural, and Technology Centres for Sustainable economic, political, educational and religious Development in the South, established at the backgrounds, and also differ greatly in their foundation meeting of the Commission; scientific and technological potentials. Their • To support other major initiatives designed common aspirations for development through to promote indigenous capacity in science cooperation in S&T capacity-building is the and technology for science-led sustainable raison d’être of their membership of COMSATS. development, and to help mobilise long-term financial support from international donor The Secretariat of COMSATS is permanently agencies and from Government/Institutions located in Islamabad, Pakistan, which is in the North and the South to supplement the supported by the generous grants from the financing of international scientific projects in Government of Pakistan. The membership of the South; COMSATS is open to all developing countries. • To provide leadership and support for However, the organization now aspires to North-South and South-South cooperative broaden its horizons to all countries and schemes in education, training and research, institutions from the North. such as the proposal to set up programmes of scholarships for research at centres of MISSION excellence in the South; and • To support the relevant programmes and The mission of COMSATS is to ‘help create a initiatives of major scientific organisations world where all nations/states are at peace with working for the development and promotion one another and capable of providing a good of science and technology in the South. quality of life to their populations in a sustainable way, using modern scientific and technological m e a n s’. i Dr. S.M. Junaid Zaidi Executive Director COMSATS Dr. S. M. Junaid Zaidi assumed the charge of Executive Director in February 2017, by virtue of which he is also the ex-officio Secretary to the Commission, Coordinating Council and the Consultative Committee. He has rich and diverse experience spanning over forty years, ranging from his work for international and national organizations, educational-institution building, and research and teaching to foreign collaborative ventures. He has been the founding Rector of a Centre of Excellence of COMSATS, the COMSATS Institute of Information Technology (CIIT), which has phenomenally grown in operations and reputation both nationally and internationally. He is a recipient of two prestigious national awards of Pakistan, Sitara-i-Imtiaz and Hilal-i-Imtiaz. FOREWORD The development gap between the North and the South agenda of spawning a positive change in the attitude is attributed to a variety of reasons. These, inter alia, and approach towards greater South-South and North include lack of scientific education and technological collaboration for sustainable development in line with expertise, and the resultant inability of the people in the United Nations agenda of diminishing the North- the South to benefit from the modern day scientific South Divide. While a good number of achievements advancements taking place around the world. The were made during the reporting year 2017, the situation calls for enhancing indigenous capacities of highlights of the year, inter alia, are the expansion the countries in the South and a greater integration and in the membership of the Network. We are happy to cooperative use of scientific and technological resources report that due to our persistent efforts, we were able to to accelerate their pace of economic development. persuade Somalia, Turkey and the Al-Quds University, Palestine, to join COMSATS. Other key achievements Evidently, the North has outpaced by gaining excellence include signing of MoUs for mutual collaboration with in science and technology and benefiting from their OCERT, UNESCAP, and IPD. Besides, breaking the appropriate application in the development process. The ground for incorporating the European Union and fact that the South has lagged far behind in this process institutions from the UK provided the Organization is the cause of concern for the world at large and which a renewed impetus. The good working relations with draws the focus of development agencies to narrowing existing partners like ISESCO and UNESCO were the development gap between the North and South. further strengthened through mutual consultations. Realizing the need for sensitizing the countries of Be it financial constraints, dearth of human resources the South to the need for prioritizing and integrating or other pressures, we at COMSATS have not wavered science and technology in their development plans in our pursuit of science-led sustainable development in and allocating adequate resources to research the Member Countries. and development, COMSATS was conceived and established as an inter-governmental organization I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to all to serve as a catalyst in the process of South-South the member states for their continued patronage cooperation for sustainable development. and support that motivates us to work towards the achievement of the Organization’s objectives. It is a matter of great pride for COMSATS to have I am greatly indebted to the Chairpersons of the sustained its endeavors for over 23 years in line with the Coordinating Council and Consultative Committee, call of its mandate. The organization has so far achieved as well as the Heads of the Focal Ministries and the a number of milestones in terms of bringing together Centres of Excellence for their backing. I also thank all many developing countries to a common platform the partner organizations for their support and sharing for cooperative efforts to improve the

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