Islamabad: Ambassador Dr. Mohammad Nafees Zakaria, Executive Director COMSATS/ Pro-Chancellor of the University visited COMSATS University Islamabad (CUI) on December 19, 2022. It was his first visit since he joined the Commission as Executive Director.

The Rector COMSATS University Islamabad, Prof. Dr. Muhammad T. Afzal welcomed the Executive Director COMSATS and visit different departments and facilities of the university. The formal briefing session was arranged after tour of the campus. The briefing session was attended by the Rector, Deans of Faculties and Principal Officers of the University

The Registrar gave a detailed presentation about CUI and highlighted that facts, figures, achievements of the University. He briefed that CUI has seven campuses with nine research centers. CUI has over 2,100 faculty members with over 1,100 faculty members having PhD degrees from advanced countries. More than 33,000 students including 360 international students from 23 nationalities are currently enrolled in different campuses. More than 100 degree programs at Bachelor, Masters and PhD level are being offered. The University has more than 90,000 alumni - including 714 PhD graduates and 1,700 international students from 40 nationalities who are serving in different sectors of the country as well as outside Pakistan. The University is focusing on research publications and commercializing such research for the betterment of the country. The University has published more than 20,000 impact factor research publications and 94 patents have been filed. According to Times Higher Education, CUI is ranked number six (6) in the country and is in the band of 601-800 in World Best University Rankings 2023. CUI is offering generous number of scholarships (100 Scholarships) for the nationals of the COMSATS member countries.

Dr. Zakaria appreciated CUI's achievements, milestones, services to society, performance of research centers, offer of scholarships to COMSATS' member states. It was discussed to align University’s nine research centers with Pakistan’s economic as well as industrial needs. The Centers may advise the Government of Pakistan on different issues as think tank for the particular initiative. It was also resolved to align Student Startup Business Center of CUI with National Incubation Center. Ambassador Zakaria assured that COMSATS Headquarter will make best efforts to utilize scholarships offered by the University for its member countries. Dr Zakaria invited Rector CUI to participate in upcoming meeting of COMSATS Coordinating Council. Dr. Zakaria assured COMSATS' full support to CUI for promoting University's ambitious development plans over the coming years.