ECO Secretary General urged Pakistan to strengthen cooperation in Science & Technology

Lahore/Tehran: Secretary General of Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO), Dr. Shamil Aleskerov has urged Pakistan to have some flexible programs whereby scientists from member states can spend 1-2 months in other member states under exchange program. He was talking to the President of ECO Science Foundation (ECOSF) Prof. Dr. Manzoor H. Soomro during the 24th Regional Planning Council (RPC) Meeting held at the ECO Secretariat in Tehran– Islamic Republic of Iran.

The President ECOSF briefed the Secretary General about ECOSF’s ongoing and planned activities and various issues related to the functioning of the Foundation. The Secretary General was also briefed about ECOSF cooperation with ECO Educational Institute (ECOEI) and ECO Institute of Environmental Science & Technology (ECO-IEST).

During the meeting, Prof. Soomro mentioned that ECOSF have developed contacts with international science and technology institutions and donors i.e. UNESCO, ISTIC Malaysia, European Union and the La main a la pate Foundation of France for support. He further highlighted the strong commitment and cooperation of ISTIC and La main a la pate Foundation for organization of a capacity building workshop in Inquiry Based Science Education (IBSE) in Turkey in May 2014, wherein the Embassies of France in Islamabad and Ankara have indicated their support.

The Secretary General showed satisfaction for ECOSF’s joint meeting of experts on climate change and biodiversity held in November 2013 at Islamabad–Pakistan and for nurturing collaboration with other international institutions / organizations.

The Secretary General advised the President ECOSF to seek strong cooperation of member countries particularly the Central Asian member states and meet the respective high officials in the Ministers of Science & Technology, Foreign Affairs and Academies of Science to muster support for various actions including ratification of ECOSF Charter, budgetary contributions and scientific cooperation/ collaboration.

At the end, Prof. Dr. Manzoor H. Soomro presented the Foundation’s Plaque and Annual Report–2013 to the Secretary General- Dr. Shamil Aleskerov. In a reciprocal gesture, the Secretary General ECO, presented the ECO Insignia to H.E. Manzoor Hussain Soomro, the President of ECOSF.