Scheduling issues: COMSTECH summit postponed, heads of state busy

The first Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Summit on Science and Technology (COMSTECH), scheduled for mid-November, has been postponed due to busy schedules of heads of state. COMSTECH Coordinator General Dr Shaukat Hameed Khan on Thursday confirmed that over a dozen heads of state scheduled to attend the OIC Summit would not be able to attend the science and technology gathering due to other pre-engagements. The OIC committee, jointly organized by the government and COMSTECH, had prepared a major document for the 57 member countries, elaborating on programmes in priority areas in science and technology for the next 10 years. He said he had met with ambassadors of 25 OIC countries during the last two months and discussed the meeting agenda with them. He said the heads were encouraged to participate and share not only research funds, but also manpower, technology and institutional facilities.