Tue, 21-Oct-2025

OIC states urged to invest 1% of GDP in research and science

OIC states
  • Experts said Muslim World are required to create technology parks.
  • Prof Iqbal Ch said, science is like a one language.
  • He was speaking in the concluding session of the IAS.

KARACHI: The 24th Conference of the Islamic World Academy of Sciences (IAS), has urged the OIC member states to invest at least One Percent of their GDP in research in science, technology and innovation (STI) for socio-economic development.

The expert-participants have called on OIC member states for the inclusion of enquiry-based education to enhance creativity, curiosity and problem solving for building-capacity in STI and enriching human resources.

They were speaking in the concluding session of the 24th Conference of the IAS on “Challenges to Promote Science & Technology for Socio-Economic Development in OIC Countries” held at the International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences (ICCBS), University of Karachi on Wednesday.

Prof. Dr. M. Iqbal Choudhary, Director of the ICCBS, and COMSTECH Coordinator-General, and IAS President Prof. Adnan Badran (Jordan), addressed the concluding session.

Speaking on the occasion, Prof. Iqbal Choudhary pointed out that there was a dire need to bridge the gap between the academia and industry in the OIC member states for joint R&D leading to socio-economic development.

Countries in the Muslim World are required to create technology parks and incubators to commercialize the delivery of research and innovations into start-up SMEs and enhance diversification of new materials and quality control, he said.

Prof. Iqbal Choudhary said, “Science is like a ‘one language’ which unites the whole humanity”.

Through science and technology nations can bridge the gap, and engage themselves in a productive and useful dialogue for common human values, he said.

He also informed the participants about various programs and initiatives of COMSTECH, which included the largest research fellowships program in the OIC region.

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Sci & Tech can handle all challenges of Muslim World, CM Sindh

Sci & Tech
  • He was speaking at inaugural ceremony of the 24th Conference of IAS.
  • The eminent scientists especially from the Islamic World participated.
  • VC KU observed that the Muslim world had faced numerous challenges.

KARACHI: Chief Minister of Sindh Syed Murad Ali Shah has said that through the applications of science and technology the enduring challenges of poverty, climate change, food insecurity, increasing disease burdens, that Muslim World is facing today, can be handled.

During the last three years Sindh Government has made a significant increase in the grant of the University of Karachi, he said, adding that the provincial government is treating all the public universities in Sindh equally as the government of Sindh has kept education sector at its top priority.

He was speaking at inaugural ceremony of the 24th Conference of the Islamic World Academy of Sciences (IAS) on “Challenges to Promote Science & Technology for Socio-Economic Development in OIC Countries” held at the International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences (ICCBS), University of Karachi.

The inaugural ceremony of the two-day conference (March 7 to 8) was also addressed by the Vice Chancellor University of Karachi Prof. Dr. Khalid Mehmood Iraqi, Prof. Atta-ur-Rahman, ICCBS Patron-in-Chief and former Federal Minister for Science and Technology, Prof. Dr. M. Iqbal Choudhary and others. The message of the President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan Dr. Arif Alvi was also recited in the ceremony.

It is pertinent to mention here that the conference is being organized in collaboration with the Islamic World Academy of Sciences, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation Ministerial Standing Committee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation (COMSTECH), and ICCBS, University of Karachi.

Eminent scientists from various countries, especially from the Islamic World, including Jordan, Pakistan, Malaysia, Iran, Palestine, Bangladesh, Morocco, Turkey, Uzbekistan, Germany, USA, Singapore and Australia are attending the conference.

Chief Minister said that Sindh Government had placed the ICCBS in the center of the government science and technology-based initiatives. In the enterprise of science and technology, strong research and development institutions play a key role, he said, adding that this center is an excellent example of strong commitment of our private sector, federal and provincial governments, international donors and our scientists and researchers towards the science and technology-based development in Pakistan.

Prof. Khalid Iraqi observed that the Muslim world had faced numerous challenges, including food, energy and water scarcity, overwhelming disease burden, and huge negative impact of climate extremities.

Prof. Atta-ur-Rahman has emphasized the importance of the linkages between academia and industry, and said that the research output of academia greatly contributed towards the socio-economic development of the country.

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