The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in collaboration with the OIC Ministerial Standing Committee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation (COMSTECH) Saturday launched the first 2026 issue of the Journal of Science Communication and Diplomacy at a ceremony held here, marking two years of the journal’s successful publication.
Foreign Office, COMSTECH launch first 2026 issue of Journal of Science Communication and Diplomacy
ISLAMABAD, Jul 25 (APP): The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in collaboration with the OIC Ministerial Standing Committee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation (COMSTECH) Saturday launched the first 2026 issue of the Journal of Science Communication and Diplomacy at a ceremony held here, marking two years of the journal’s successful publication.
Foreign Secretary Ambassador Amna Baloch, who was the chief guest at the ceremony, called for stronger science diplomacy and emphasized that today’s global challenges require collective solutions through enhanced scientific cooperation and evidence-based policymaking.
The ceremony was attended by ambassadors, diplomats, scientists, academics, heads of national organizations, members of the journal’s editorial board, and senior officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and COMSTECH.
Ambassadors from Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, Tajikistan and Mauritius, diplomats from Jordan and Azerbaijan, as well as senior officials of the ECO Science Foundation, Higher Education Commission, Pakistan Academy of Sciences and representatives of other leading scientific and academic institutions also attended.
Addressing the ceremony, Foreign Secretary Ambassador Amna Baloch underscored that today’s global challenges require collective solutions and highlighted the increasingly important role of science diplomacy in bridging science and foreign policy.
She emphasized the need for enhanced scientific cooperation within the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and greater participation of developing countries in shaping the governance of emerging technologies. She also appreciated the collaboration between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and COMSTECH in publishing the journal, describing it as a significant initiative to strengthen science diplomacy and international cooperation.
Speaking on the occasion, Coordinator General COMSTECH Prof. Dr. Muhammad Iqbal Choudhary said science diplomacy had become one of the most effective instruments for addressing global challenges through international cooperation, scientific knowledge and innovation.
He said the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), representing 57 member states, possesses enormous scientific and intellectual potential that can be harnessed through stronger collaboration among universities, research institutions, governments and industry.
Prof. Choudhary said the Journal of Science Communication and Diplomacy had emerged as an important platform connecting diplomats, scientists, academics and policymakers to promote evidence-based policymaking and strengthen the interface between science, technology and international relations among OIC member states.
He said COMSTECH continued to advance scientific cooperation across the Muslim world through scholarships, fellowships, research collaborations, capacity-building programmes, academic mobility and science diplomacy initiatives aimed at supporting sustainable development in OIC member states.
The first issue of 2026 features 11 articles, including seven authored by diplomats from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, reflecting Pakistan’s growing contribution to science diplomacy and international scientific cooperation.
The Journal of Science Communication and Diplomacy serves as a dedicated platform for diplomats, scientists, academics and policy practitioners to exchange ideas and contribute to policy discourse at the intersection of science, technology and international relations while promoting international scientific collaboration.
