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BadPsychics Forum :: Skepticism :: Skepticism, Science, And The Universe :: Muslims take up science

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Topic: Muslims take up science (Read 60 times)

Stelio Kontos
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Muslims take up science
« Thread Started on Jan 11, 2011, 10:56pm »

Muslims take up science, technology to meet challenges: Gilani

ISLAMABAD: Urging the Muslim Ummah to join hands in initiating projects in fields of science and technology to meet the challenges of 21st century, Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani on Tuesday said Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) member countries must build human capital and invest in science and technology to get parallel with rest of the world. Gilani was addressing the inaugural session of 2-day 14th OIC Ministerial Standing Committee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation (COMSTECH) organised by Ministry of Science and Technology here at Jinnah Convention Centre.

The two-day General Assembly meeting will study a number of scientific projects, including a mega project initiative that aims at pooling diverse capabilities, resources and expertise of the member states of OIC. “We live in an age of scientific innovations and technological advancement. In the knowledge based societies of the 21st century only those nations could aspire to lead which excel in science and technology,” the PM said.

Recalling the contributions of Muslim scholars and pioneers in the field of science and medicine for 600 years, Gilani regretted the glorious period of creative scientific activity ceased as the Muslim Ummah lost the intellectual leadership. “Despite enormous human and material resources, the Muslim world is still counted among the backwards due to lack in scientific and technological advancement,” he said.

Appreciating the role of COMSTECH for fulfilling responsibility to help OIC member countries in promoting a culture of research and innovation in science and technology, the premier mentioned several important developments under the umbrella of COMSTECH including bringing in its fold, all science and technology institutions of OIC to function as one whole body, which he said, would enable efforts in a coordinated manner.

Gilani said he would like COMSTECH Coordinator General Prof Attaur Rahman to prepare policy guidelines in consultation with the OIC General Secretariat and under the overall supervision of the COMSTECH Executive Committee to translate decisions of COMSTECH General Assembly into concrete steps. The premier proposed, holding a meeting of science and technology stakeholders of the OIC system in Pakistan, before August 2011 and asked the Ministry of Science and Technology to make necessary arrangements for this meeting in Islamabad.

He mentioned that the funding of science and technology programmes had borne fruit with the operationlisation of Science Technology Innovation Organization (STIO) at a meeting in Riyadh, in February 2010.

Gilani said with a clearly defined mandate to act as implementing arm of COMSTECH, STIO would be crucial in promoting science and technology. “This can be perceived as a significant step, allowing COMSTECH to strengthen the science and technology infrastructure of OIC.” He said it would also prove central in implementation of the earlier plans contained in Vision 1,441 and Ten Year Programme of Action.

The prime minister mentioned that COMSTECH on its own had managed to obtain almost twice as much fund for its Science and Technology programmes as financial contributions by its member states. This development, will allow COMSTECH to focus its energies on its primary role as a coordination and policy making supreme body of the OIC on Science and Technology, he said.

He acknowledged the role of Saudi Arabia in bringing STIO this far and urged those who had not joined STIO to fully implement the 10-Year Programme of Action during the remaining 5-year period. Gilani also appreciated the efforts of OIC Secretary General Dr Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu in finding a partial solution to the long-standing challenge of funding.

Gilani mentioned that Saudi Arabia, Syria, Iran and Pakistan had committed five million US dollars each for a total approved budget of US$ 70 million for 2011, for undertaking scientific programmes of STIO within their respective countries during the current year.

Gilani said the Coordinator General of COMSTECH had placed special emphasis on capacity building for young scientists by raising funds from external sources like Islamic Development Bank Jeddah (IDB), International Foundation for Science (IFS) in Sweden, the Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office (EMRO) of World Health Organization (WHO) and the Academy of Sciences for the Developing World (TWAS). To help COMSTECH pursue its commendable course of action in building indigenous research capability, Gilani said Pakistan had provided US$ one million annually. “The conference’s agenda include joint design, manufacture and marketing of small and medium sized planes, affordable cars, communication satellites and production of biotechnological-based drugs and vaccines,” the PM added.

The OIC general secretariat is working on a plan of action for the implementation of this initiative which covers five OIC member sates; Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, Turkey, Indonesia and Kazakhstan. This 14th of the COMSTECH General Assembly will also study the draft of the Atlas of scientific innovations. Gilani also presented COMSTECH awrds in his capacity as the Co-Chairman of COMSTECH.

The Prime Minister also attended the plenary session. Dr Attaur Rehman, Coordinator General COMSTECH on the occasion presented a report on the activities of the COMSTECH.

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2011\01\12\story_12-1-2011_pg11_7

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