- Advertisement -
ISLAMABAD, Oct 16 (APP):Federal Minister for Education and Professional Training, Dr. Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui Thursday said that Pakistan stands shoulder to shoulder with Palestine, offering not just solidarity in words but cooperation through research, innovation, and higher education.
He stated this while inaugurating the first-ever Palestine–Pakistan Rectors’ Forum on “Higher Education and Scientific Research in Gaza: The Way Forward” at the OIC-COMSTECH Secretariat.
Dr. Siddiqui said the forum marked a crucial step in the shared journey of academic rebuilding and educational empowerment for Gaza, underscoring Pakistan’s enduring commitment to the cause of the Palestinian people.
He termed the initiative “an embodiment of collective resolve to rebuild through knowledge, peace, and progress.”
The minister lauded the role of the OIC-COMSTECH Standing Committee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)-for bringing together academic leaders from both countries to strengthen cooperation in higher education and scientific research.
Highlighting COMSTECH’s ongoing support for Palestinian students and professionals, Dr. Siddiqui commended the announcement of 5,000 fellowships for Palestinian youth, describing it as “a remarkable initiative that will empower a new generation of scientists, innovators, and leaders from Palestine.”
He also appreciated COMSTECH’s Basic Life Support (BLS) and Trauma Management Course, along with technical and skill development programs, calling them tangible steps toward saving lives and building human capacity in Gaza.
The inaugural ceremony was attended by ambassadors, vice chancellors, government officials, and senior academics from Palestine and Pakistan, reflecting a strong spirit of academic solidarity among OIC member states. Prof. Dr. M. Iqbal Choudhary, Coordinator General, OIC-COMSTECH, delivered the welcome remarks, while the proceedings were conducted by Mr. Muhammad Murtaza Noor, Focal Person/Coordinator, CCoE, Outreach & Media, OIC-COMSTECH.
In his address, Prof. Dr. M. Iqbal Choudhary said the forum aims to develop a comprehensive roadmap for the rehabilitation and restructuring of Gaza’s higher education institutions. “The systematic destruction of universities, research centres, and schools in Gaza has deeply affected the intellectual and developmental foundations of an entire generation,” he stated. “Through joint academic planning, knowledge transfer, and institutional support, OIC-COMSTECH and partner universities aim to restore academic life and reignite the flame of learning and innovation that no war can extinguish.”
Prof. Dr M.F. Ayman Sobh, President of Al-Aqsa University Gaza, expressed heartfelt gratitude to OIC-COMSTECH and the Government of Pakistan for their support and solidarity. “This forum gives us renewed hope to rebuild our academic institutions and create new opportunities for our students and researchers,” he said, noting that collaboration with Pakistan would help revive laboratories, research infrastructure, and academic programs in Gaza.
The seven-member Palestinian delegation, comprising presidents, rectors, and senior academic leaders from Gaza, is on a week-long visit to Pakistan, facilitated by OIC-COMSTECH. The delegation will visit leading universities in Islamabad, Faisalabad, and Lahore to explore avenues of academic collaboration and partnership with Pakistani institutions.