Islamabad (Adnan Hameed): Islamabad played host to the 4th Rectors Conference at COMSTECH, where Mr. Yerzhan Kistafin, the Ambassador of Kazakhstan, underscored his country’s commitment to education.
In his address, Ambassador Kistafin emphasized the pivotal role of education in fostering global awareness and enhancing security understanding. He expressed Kazakhstan’s openness to bilateral and regional cooperation, particularly highlighting collaboration between Kazakhstani and OIC state universities.
The conference, organized by the Association of Private Sector Universities of Pakistan (APSUP) in partnership with Superior University, COMSTECH, HEC, PHEC, and several other leading institutions, successfully concluded with the participation of Vice-Chancellors and leaders from approximately 150 universities.
Prof. Dr. Sumaira Rehman, Rector of Superior University, provided insights into the conference’s background, objectives, and theme. Prof. Dr. Abdul Basit, President of APSUP, also addressed the occasion.
Dr. Mukhtar Ahmad, Chairman of the Higher Education Commission (HEC) Pakistan, urged Pakistani universities to embrace a global mindset and establish networks worldwide. Stressing the untapped potential within the OIC, he called for proactive measures, beyond mere memorandum signings, to leverage the 70% of global resources held by OIC member states.
Prof. Dr. M. Iqbal Choudhary, Coordinator General COMSTECH, highlighted the importance of joint program formulation and initiation with OIC member state universities to share knowledge, expertise, and talent. He commended APSUP for fostering networking among institutions.
The 3-day conference witnessed the participation of university leaders and delegations from seven OIC countries, facilitated by COMSTECH. As a contributing partner, COMSTECH played a crucial role in organizing the event, fostering collaboration among research institutions and universities from OIC states.