Islamabad, 3 September 2026 – The Commission on Science and Technology for Sustainable Development in the South (COMSATS) held a virtual discussion with Green Cross United Kingdom (Green Cross UK) on 3 September 2026 to explore prospects for collaboration in areas of mutual interest, particularly climate change, clean water, green energy, food security and sustainable development.

The meeting was led by Executive Director COMSATS, Ambassador Dr. Mohammad Nafees Zakaria, and was attended by the Director (Coordinator for IPOs) and Head of the COMSATS Centre for Climate & Sustainability (CCCS-COMSATS), Dr. Mehwish Durani; and Assistant Director IPOs, Mr. Zakirullah. Green Cross UK was represented by Mr. Ruy Campos Dugane, Executive Director and Co-founder, Green Cross UK, and Dr. Javier Allen Manza.

During the meeting, Mr. Ruy Campos Dugane provided an overview of Green Cross UK’s mission and its work towards addressing global sustainability challenges, particularly in the areas of water, energy and decarbonization, under a broader framework of peace and sustainable development.

Ambassador Dr. Mohammad Nafees Zakaria highlighted COMSATS’ mandate as an intergovernmental organization comprising 27 Member States and 25 Centres of Excellence, with a core focus on promoting scientific and technological cooperation and bridging knowledge and technology gaps between the Global North and South. He particularly highlighted the role of CCCS-COMSATS in advancing climate resilience, sustainability and knowledge-based solutions through collaboration with COMSATS’ extensive network of scientific and technological institutions.

The discussion explored potential mechanisms for institutional collaboration between COMSATS and Green Cross UK, including the possibility of establishing a formal Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) as well as pursuing cooperation through the exchange of activities and joint initiatives. The participants, however, emphasized a practical and results-oriented approach for the benefit of communities. In this regard, Green Cross UK proposed Green Hilal Initiative, envisaged as an organization aimed at extending sustainability-focused interventions across 57 Islamic countries.

The meeting concluded with a shared understanding to pursue practical, technology-driven collaboration and identify an initial pilot project under the proposed Green Hilal Initiative. The prospective partnership is expected to leverage the complementary networks, scientific expertise and technological capabilities of both organizations to contribute towards sustainable development, climate action and peace-oriented initiatives.