First ‘Diplomats’ Discourse’ underlines importance of BRI, opportunities for participating countries
The speakers at the First Diplomat’s Discourse on Friday underlined the importance of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and the opportunities it had for the participating countries.
The First Diplomat’s Discourse on “Regional Connectivity: In Asian Context” was convened here at Foreign Service Academy, Islamabad.
The one-day event was organized by COMSATS University, Islamabad in collaboration with Foreign Service Academy and Islamabad Policy Research Institute (IPRI).
Besides several Islamabad Ambassadors, diplomats, think-tank representatives, serving and former Pakistan Ambassadors, under training Foreign Service of Pakistan officers as well as ASEAN Country diplomats currently undergoing training at the Academy attended the event.
The inaugural Session was addressed by Senator Mushahid Hussain Syed, the newly arrived Ambassador of China, Jiang Ziadong and the Director General Foreign Service Academy, Ambassador Mazhar Javed.
Two-panel discussions were held, one themed around BRI and ASEAN and the other on Pakistan as the hub of regional connectivity.
Participants included Senator Mushahid Hussain Syed, Rector COMSATS University Islamabad, Prof. Dr. Sajid Qamar, Ambassadors of Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan in Pakistan, Pakistan Ambassadors to Philippines, Thailand, UAE, Oman and Azerbaijan and former Ambassador of Pakistan to China Naghmana Hashmi and former Ambassador to Indonesia Muhammad Hassan.
Speakers underlined the importance of the Belt and Road Initiative and the opportunities it had for participating countries.
Pakistan’s potential to become a hub of regional connectivity was highlighted. Progress already made in that direction and what was needed to be done came under discussion. Discussions were followed by a lively question-and-answer session.
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Participation in Stakeholders Consultative Meeting on Irrigation Advisory Services (IAS) held on Thursday, 18 May 2023 at PCRWR, Islamabad.
PCRWR is disseminating its digital services to 20,000 farmers in 43 districts since 2017. Since then, PCRWR has worked tremendously for improving the technical aspects of IAS, which is now in a mature state to be disseminated to 100,000 farmers and beyond.
The council seeks the input from water experts in making the advisory SMS compatible to the needs of farmers registered by prestigious organization. Therefore, PCRWR organized a stakeholders consultative meeting for upscaling of its irrigation Advisory Services (IAS) held on Thursday, 18 May 2025 at PCRWR, HQ Islamabad. Dr. Toqeer Ahmed, Tenured Associate Professor represented CCRD, CUI and gave his input. The meeting was chaired by Dr. Muhammad Ashraf, Chairman, PCRWR. Scientists from both public and private sectors participated in the said meeting.
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Press Release
2nd Meeting
of the D-8 Network of Pioneers for Research and Innovation (D-8 NPRI)
8-9th March 2023
held in hybrid mode at COMSATS University Islamabad
The 2nd meeting of the D-8 Network of Pioneers for Research and Innovation (D-8 NPRI) was held from 8-9th of March 2023. The core meeting of the members and allied participants was held on the 8th of March 2023 at COMSATS University Islamabad in a hybrid mode. Therein, the Heads of Delegations of the D8 and D8 Member states, Rectors/Chancellors/Vice Chancellors and Heads of delegations of the D-8 NPRI Universities, Research Institutions, D8 Affiliates and Private Sector Representatives from the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, Republic of Indonesia, Islamic Republic of Iran, Malaysia, Federal Republic of Nigeria, Islamic Republic of Pakistan and the Republic of Turkey worked together and agreed the way forward. There was a collective realization about the importance of information exchange and the need to empower research and innovation to be able to result in sustainable development and to achieve the objectives of the D-8 Organization. The participants were appreciative of the need to establish collaborations for joint Research and Innovation with resultant economic productivity and development in D-8 Member States. The participants underlined the need to strengthen dialogue and facilitate sharing of experiences amongst the D-8 Member States and between the Member States, D8 affiliates and global institutions with clear pathways that are needed to support sustainable industrialization. A developing draft of the D-8 NPRI charter was tabled in the meeting and there was a consensus on developing it further in a stipulated time period in order to ensure sustainability of the D-8 NPRI. It was understood that the developed charter will establish grounds for taking initial steps for soliciting financial commitments from the member states in this regard. There was also a general agreement that all members of the D8 NPRI and other universities/research organizations should carry out interest mapping exercises and undertake networking activities in order to develop researcher-researcher and institution-institution bi- and multi-lateral linkages within the D8 member states. It was agreed that focal person nominations will be requested from all members. As a key first step an interactive website shall be developed in a phased manner linking all the members of the D8 NPRI. It was also agreed that where there is always a need for increasing national statutory allocations to R&D, it is pertinent to understand the prevalent global economic situation. It was jointly recommended that allocations towards and investments into innovation commercialization frameworks and capacity building including professional trainings can result in subsequent economic activity. Within the D8 member states, a variety of innovation commercialization ecosystems exist, ranging from very strong (with examples of successes) to those who need help and mentoring. Therefore, providing access of IPs, startups, spin offs etc. in the member states to translational platforms in any member state should be a key goal. The Heads of Delegations expressed their words of appreciation to the Rector of COMSATS University, Islamabad, Prof. Dr. Muhammad Tabassum Afzal, for leading the deliberations and recorded their gratitude to the Government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan for arrangement of the meeting. The Meeting also appreciated the D-8 Secretariat for its valuable support for the event. On the 9th of March 2023, the Secretary General D-8 held an interactive seminar which saw enthusiastic participation from the students of CUI. Following the interactive session, the D8 delegation visited facilities of the Department of Biosciences, Centre for Micro and Nanodevices, Department of Computer Science and the Campus Library. The visit culminated with a final round up meeting with several key initiative discussed to take the cause of the D8 NPRI further.
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Participation of Faculty in 20th Freedom Gate Pakistan Alumni Meeting and Celebrations of 75 Years of Pakistan at Lahore Country Club.
Dr. Toqeer Ahmed, Tenured Associate Professor of CCRD, CUI participated in 20th Freedom Gate Pakistan Alumni Meeting and celebrations of 75 Years of Pakistan at Lahore Country Club on 28-30 October 2022. Ms. Birgit Lamm, Head of Country Office FNF Pakistan gave the welcome remarks. Participants from different provinces joined the meeting. There was a plenary session on Economic transformation: Poverty Alleviation and Creating Prosperity. What Alumni did in 2022 and their future ideas for 2023 were discussed and five ideas selected through voting. Finally, concluding remarks were delivered by Ms. Birgit Lamm, Head of Country Office, Pakistan.
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Senior Internationalization officer calls on Head of Department Turkish Studies at NUML University- Dr. Sibel Bayram.
To reach out to the Turkish academic community in Islamabad, Mr. Arif Awan SPO (Internationalization) made a cordial courtesy call on the Head of Department (Turkish Studies) at NUML, Dr. Sibel Bayram.
Dr. Bayram has been in Islamabad since sometimes, so this visit was long due. She leads the teaching of Turkish language at NUML University that offers instruction at very affordable rates.
For your information, Turkish language is a very rich language with many common words with urdu and to your absolute surprise, the Turkish language as a member of Turkic languages is spoken in over 30 countries worldwide.
Surely, learning Turkish can open up enormous study abroad opportunities and that too at a cost equivalent not much higher than in Pakistan.
Should anyone need further encouragement to start his/her journey on the Turkish language please feel free to contact Mr. Arif Awan.
Ext: 051-90495272
Mobile# 03215504181
Email: arif_awan@comsats.edu.pk
 
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