Islamabad: Coordinator General of OIC-COMSTECH, Prof. Dr. Muhammad Iqbal Choudhary, has stressed the need to strengthen scientific and research collaboration between leading German institutions and member states of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).

The matter was discussed during his meeting with Pakistan's Ambassador to Germany, Saqlain Syedah, at the Embassy of Pakistan in Berlin, where both sides exchanged views on enhancing academic partnerships, research cooperation and scientific mobility between German institutions and OIC member countries.

Prof. Choudhary thanked the ambassador for the warm hospitality and appreciated the opportunity to discuss potential collaboration between COMSTECH and prominent German research organizations including the Leibniz Association, Max Planck Society, Fraunhofer Society and Helmholtz Association.

He said such cooperation could help strengthen scientific capacity across OIC member states, particularly in Least Developed Countries (LDCs) in Africa.

During the meeting, Prof. Choudhary proposed establishing a structured COMSTECH-Germany science partnership in collaboration with the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) to promote long-term academic and research cooperation.

He also suggested launching joint priority research programs in areas such as renewable energy, climate change, health sciences, artificial intelligence and water security, aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals.

The proposed collaboration also includes expanding scholarships and research mobility through fellowships and academic exchange programs, and exploring elements of the German-Jordanian University model to improve access to STEM education for refugees and host communities in OIC member states.

Prof. Choudhary further proposed institutionalizing an annual Germany-COMSTECH Science Policy Dialogue to promote science diplomacy, innovation cooperation and sustainable development.

He also invited Ambassador Saqlain Syedah to visit the COMSTECH headquarters in Islamabad during her next visit to Pakistan to further discuss practical steps for advancing the initiative.