|
7 Million Dollars For Science And Technology
Report
by IOL Correspondent, Aamir Latif
ISLAMABAD,
Feb 19 (Islam Online) The 10th Comstech General Assembly has approved a budget
of $7 million for the year 2002-2003. Pakistan led by volunteering $1 million to
promote science and technology within Islamic states.
The
approved budget would be spent on 27 different projects on science and
technology endorsed by the meeting, concluded Monday in Islamabad.
The
Executive Secretary Comstech, Dr Mohammad Ali Mehsar told a group of reporters
at the conclusion that the meeting was the most crucial because different
countries were supposed to volunteer donations.
He
said some of the member states announced contributions. Others agreed to
announce the same at a later stage.
The
countries which announced contributions include: Pakistan $1 million, Saudi
Arabia $191,000, Iran $110,000, Oman $200,000, Syria $20,000 and Sudan $110,000.
The
meeting also approved establishing four new Inter Islamic network projects
including Biosaline Agriculture (INBA) in UAE, Information Technology
(INIT) in Islamabad and renewable energy
and environment in the Sudan. The proposals were an effort to extend the
institutional building program of
the Comstech.
Reports
were also presented on the activities of six networks earlier established by
Comstech including inter-Islamic networks on Biotechnology (INOGE),
renewable energy (INRES), oceanography
(IMOC), space sciences (ISNET), tropical medicine (INTROM) and water resources
(INWRDAM) by the respective heads of the networks or their representatives.
The
list of 27 projects approved are: Comstech visiting scientists program with a
budget of $100,000, spare parts program $200,000, Comstech awards $18,000,
scientific literature search service $300,000, assistance for information
technology centers in OIC member states, $500,000, Comstech
profiles of the Muslim world $100,000,
Comstech-ISESCO directory of active scientists and institutions in OIC member
states and their recent scientific publications $200,000, Comstech support for
research by young scientists $500,000, travel assistance to scientists attending
seminars, workshops and conferences $150,000, Comstech assistance for
conferences, workshops and seminars $200,000, Comstech assistance to scientists
for field trips and scientific
expeditions $50,000, Comstech short term
training program for technicians $100,000, financial assistance for co-awarding
medals and prizes to OIC
scientists
$25,000, Comstech inter-library network service $100,000, Comstech-IFS
collaborative program of financial support for small research projects
$800,000,
Comstech-ISESCO joint program activity $200,000, IT based Comstech research and
training center for OIC executives, managers and students at the Comstech
secretariat, Islamabad $558,000, Comstech research center in frontier
technologies $150,000, Comstech publications program $150,000, Comstech meetings
and conferences $200,000, monitoring and
evaluation of Comstech projects $150,000,
Comstech secretariat building $818,425, Comstech secretariat recurring
expenditure $1,688,684, Comstech-Islamic Development bank (IDB) cooperative and
collaborative support for projects for the OIC member states $387,000, IDB
financed research project support for young scientists $225,000, Comstech
assisted program
of IDB financed MSC, scholarships for
least developed member states of OIC and IDB support for Inter-Islamic Networks
$400,000.
These
were Comstech priority programs requiring firm commitment and immediate resource
mobilization by the Comstech members.
The
general assembly also approved Pakistan's proposal of sending science and
technology minister Prof Dr Attaur Rehman as an emissary of President Pervez
Musharraf to different head of states of
the Islamic world with a suggestion to create a multi- billion dollar research
and development fund by pooling the
resources of these countries.
The
10th Comstech general assembly meeting was attended by 256 delegates including
37 delegations from different OIC member states, 12 international
organizations and 207 local delegations.
|
