Islamabad, 3rd June 2025 — The Commission on Science and Technology for Sustainable Development in the South (COMSATS) and the National Institute of Maritime Affairs (NIMA) have formalized a strategic partnership through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), aimed at strengthening regional collaboration in maritime sustainability, climate adaptation, and environmental stewardship.
The MoU was signed by Ambassador Dr. Mohammad Nafees Zakaria, Executive Director of COMSATS, and Vice Admiral Ahmed Saeed HI(M) (Retd), President of NIMA, during an International Seminar organized by NIMA to commemorate World Environment Day 2025. The ceremony was attended by stakeholders from academia, government, and scientific communities.
The milestone has its roots in the ongoing collaboration between COMSATS and NIMA, including COP-29. These efforts have exemplified a shared vision to confront global environmental challenges through multilateral cooperation, with a special emphasis on capacity building and policy-oriented research for developing countries, particularly Pakistan.
The MoU envisages a comprehensive framework for collaboration among Global South. The MoU includes activities such as joint mobilization of academia, science and technology stakeholders, R&D institutions, and the private sector to drive innovation, institutional capacity building, and technology transfer across the maritime and climate domains.
The MoU covers priority areas viz. marine biotechnology, sustainable fisheries, oceanographic observation, maritime security, renewable ocean energy, and coastal zone management. It also encompasses co-hosting policy dialogues, symposia, expert-level meetings, and technical capacity-building initiatives, both regionally and internationally.
The collaboration aligns with COMSATS’ strategic commitment to leveraging Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) for sustainable development across its 27 Member States, as well as NIMA’s mandate as a national think tank focused on maritime research, policy formulation, and the blue economy. Special emphasis will be placed on equipping coastal and vulnerable communities with data-driven, climate-resilient tools and approaches.
This MoU marks a significant step toward integrated, technology-led solutions for sustainable ocean governance and affirms the Parties’ resolve to support evidence-based policymaking, marine environmental protection, and resilient maritime economies in the Global South.
