The 24th Coordinating Council Meeting of COMSATS was held at Karachi, Pakistan on 25th – 26th January 2023 in hybrid form. The meeting was hosted by the International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences (ICCBS), University of Karachi, one of the 24 International Centres of Excellence (CoEs) of COMSATS, the meeting was attended by eminent Council members, COMSATS Technical Advisory Committee and representatives of partner International Organizations from different parts of the world. Prof. Dr. M. Iqbal Choudhary, Director ICCBS and COMSTECH Coordinator-General, Vice President of The World Academy of Sciences welcomed the participants of the meeting. Prof. Dr. Ashraf Shaalan, Chairperson COMSATS Coordinating Council; Vice Chancellor University of Karachi, Prof. Dr. Khalid Mehmood Iraqi; Executive Director COMSATS, Ambassador Dr. Mohammad Nafees Zakaria; and Prof. Dr. Farzana Shaheen (ICCBS) spoke at the Ceremony. Many dignitaries, including Prof. Dr. M.H. A. Hassan, intermediate President of The World Academy of Sciences, were present on the occasion.
COMSATS was established in 1994 as an inter-governmental organization to promote South-South scientific and technological cooperation and promote sustainable economic and social development of developing countries. It now has 27 member countries. The COMSATS Coordinating Council meeting is an important mechanism and platform for member states and centres of excellence to enhance understanding and promote South-South cooperation in science and technology. The Council Members /delegates from Egypt, the Gambia, Indonesia, Jordan, Nigeria, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syria, and Tanzania made in person participation. The other Council members and representatives from across COMSATS’ 27 member states attended online. In addition, ten-member Technical Advisory Committee, representatives of COMSATS Focal ministries in member states, diplomatic community in Pakistan as well as heads/representatives of International organiztions also participated online. The international organizations represented at the meeting were TWAS, UNESCAP, UNESCO, COMSTECH, UNIDO, ANSO, IOFS and INSME. The delegates reviewed the memorandum of the last meeting and the progress of the follow-up work, listened to the work report of COMSATS and the annual activities of CoEs and ITRG. The participants also discussed the rotating chairmanship of the Coordinating Council, the restructuring of the Technical Advisory Committee, the financial affairs, and the strategy of future development.
China is a founding member of COMSATS. ICCES became the first center of excellence of COMSATS in China. CAS Academician Prof. Qingcun Zeng, founding director of ICCES, was a member of the first COMSTAS Coordinating Council. In this meeting, Prof. Zhaohui LIN, Council Member and Director of ICCES, introduced ICCES's activities relates to South-South Cooperation and SDGs from 2020 to 2022. He proposed to make full use of The Earth System Science Numerical Simulator Facility built by IAP to conduct research that address climate change impacts. He also pointed out ICCES will expand closer cooperation with COMSATS member states and CoEs on meteorological and environmental disaster risk prediction and early warning, food security and for the implementing the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
