ISLAMABAD: The Organization of Islamic Cooperation’s Standing Committee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation (COMSTECH) has launched a capacity building program for Yemeni scientists, researchers and professionals by bringing them to Pakistani institutions, said a senior official on Tuesday.
The committee was launched in 1981 during the Islamic Summit in Makkah.
It is headquartered in Pakistan and seeks to enhance the scientific capacity of OIC member states.
“We have launched the program to provide quality research opportunities and training to Yemeni nationals,” the committee’s coordinator general Professor Dr. Muhammad Iqbal Choudhary told Arab News. “This will help them serve their nation and prepare young people in their country to fend for themselves.”
He continued the project was jointly funded by COMSTECH and Pakistani institutions, adding the application to participate in the program was available on the committee’s website and Yemen’s embassy.
“The last date to apply is April 30,” he said.
Ambassador of Yemen Mohammed Motahar Alashabi (left) and Coordinator-General COMSTECH Professor Dr. M. Iqbal Choudhary (center) are pictured together in Islamabad, Pakistan, during the announcement of the program for the capacity building of Yemeni scientists on January 31, 2022. (Courtesy: COMSTECH)
Choudhary informed that Yemini nationals with masters or PhD degrees, or those currently enrolled at these levels, were eligible to apply for research fellowships.
He added the committee also wanted to provide opportunities to health professionals in the Arab state by allowing them to apply for short training programs.
“In the first phase, 50 fellowships will be provided to Yemeni nationals who want to perform research or benefit from short training courses,” he said while informing that the scope of the program would be expanded by including other fields after about a year.
For research in science and technology, he continued, about 20 fellows would get a chance to work with the International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences at the Karachi University.
“They will be facilitated to undertake quality research in any discipline of chemical, biological and biomedical sciences,” he said.
Choudhary added the second area under the program was related to public health that included disaster management training.
“Around 15 professionals will participate in this three-month training program at the health services academy in Islamabad,” he continued.
The third area, he informed, would bring in medical technicians to help them operate hospital equipment at the University of Lahore.
Ambassador of Yemen Mohammed Motahar Alashabi (left) and Coordinator-General COMSTECH Professor Dr. M. Iqbal Choudhary (right) are pictured together in Islamabad, Pakistan, during a meeting before the announcement of the program for capacity building of Yemeni scientists on January 31, 2022. (Courtesy: COMSTECH)
“This is Pakistan’s gift through COMSTECH to our Muslim brothers and sisters in Yemen who require external support,” he said.
The OIC committee finalized the contours of the program during a meeting between the ambassador of Yemen, Mohammed Motahar Alashabi, and the COMSTECH coordinator general in Islamabad earlier this week.
Alashabi welcomed the initiative and agreed to promote it in his country.
“We appreciate this program by COMSTECH and Pakistani institutions since it will help Yemeni scientists, professionals and technicians enhance their knowledge and skills,” he told Arab News.
