Strengthening bonds of knowledge: Gaza-Palestine university leaders conclude landmark visit to Pakistan

ISLAMABAD, Oct 24 (APP): The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Standing Committee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation, COMSTECH successfully facilitated the first-ever visit of a high-level delegation of Vice Chancellors and academic leaders from leading universities of Gaza-Palestine to Pakistan from October 16-23.
The distinguished Palestinian delegation represented the University of Palestine, Al-Aqsa University, Islamic University of Gaza (IUG), Al-Azhar University, Israa University, and Gaza University.
During the visit, the delegation participated in the Palestine-Pakistan Vice Chancellors Forum and witnessed the signing of a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the OIC-COMSTECH Secretariat, Islamabad, aimed at strengthening short and long term academic and scientific collaboration between the two sides.
The delegation also visited several leading Pakistani universities and member institutions of the COMSTECH Consortium of Excellence (CCOE) in Islamabad, Taxila, Faisalabad, and Lahore, where they held productive meetings to explore collaborative avenues for the restructuring and rehabilitation of Gaza’s higher education and health sectors.
The leadership of OIC-COMSTECH and partner Pakistani universities expressed their solidarity with the people of Gaza-Palestine, reaffirming their commitment to support through capacity building, scholarships, fellowships, joint research and academic exchange programmes, providing required expertise, access to digital resources, and assistannce in online education aimed at rebuilding Gaza’s education and research infrastructure.
The visiting delegation from Gaza-Palestine termed the visit extremely productive and inspiring, and extended heartfelt thanks for the warm welcome, generous hospitality, and strong expression of solidarity shown by OIC-COMSTECH and the academic leadership of Pakistan.
This historic visit marks a new chapter of enduring partnership and academic cooperation between Palestine and Pakistan, under the visionary leadership and facilitation of OIC-COMSTECH.