15 October 2025 | Amman, Jordan — The delegation of the Commission on Science and Technology for Sustainable Development in the South (COMSATS), led by its Executive Director, Ambassador Dr. Mohammad Nafees Zakaria, undertook an official visit to Jordan in connection with the 3rd Meeting of COMSATS’ Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) and the Joint Training Workshop on Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Technologies for Advancing the SDGs, held at the Princess Sumaya University for Technology (PSUT) under the gracious patronage of Her Royal Highness Princess Sumaya bint El Hassan, President of the Royal Scientific Society (RSS).
As part of the visit, Her Royal Highness graciously hosted a formal dinner in honour of COMSATS, PSUT, ICESCO, and the workshop delegates, which also served as an occasion for a high-level dialogue between COMSATS’ leadership and senior Jordanian officials. The gathering was attended by distinguished dignitaries, including Dr. Mashhour Rifai, Secretary-General of the Higher Council for Science and Technology (HCST); Eng. Rafat Assi, Vice President of the Royal Scientific Society (RSS); Dr. Wejdan Abu Elhaija, President of PSUT; Ms. Abeer Arafat, COMSATS’ Liaison Officer in Jordan; Dr. Adel Smeda, Science Expert from ICESCO. The Executive Director was accompanied by Dr. Mehwish Durani, Director (IPOs) and Head of the Centre for Climate and Sustainability (CCCS), and Dr. Huma Balouch, Additional Director (IPOs & CCCS).
In her address, Her Royal Highness Princess Sumaya commended COMSATS for its sustained leadership in promoting science diplomacy, climate resilience, and technological innovation across the Global South. Her Royal Highness underscored that “through COMSATS, ICESCO, and TWAS, we are nurturing an ecosystem where knowledge transcends borders and science becomes a shared language for peace, equity, and progress.” Reflecting on Jordan’s longstanding engagement with COMSATS, Her Royal Highness recalled that RSS’s Industrial Chemistry Centre was among the first COMSATS Centres of Excellence in 1997, a pioneering step that laid the foundation for sustained scientific cooperation between Jordan and the broader COMSATS Network. She noted that this legacy is now being extended through PSUT’s emerging role as a hub for digital innovation, AI, and future technologies, thereby deepening Jordan’s commitment to science-led sustainable development.
Ambassador Dr. Nafees Zakaria expressed profound gratitude to Her Royal Highness for her consistent advocacy of science for peace and sustainable progress, and to the Government and institutions of Jordan for their invaluable cooperation. He reaffirmed COMSATS’ commitment to consolidating partnerships with HCST, PSUT, and RSS, while advancing collaborative projects that leverage AI, quantum science, and emerging technologies to empower developing nations.
Dr. Zakaria highlighted the active participation and technical contributions of TAC Members, who continue to share their expertise and strengthen COMSATS’ collective mission across continents. He particularly emphasized that such engagements exemplify COMSATS’ evolving ecosystem of scientific exchange and policy innovation, underpinned by a shared aspiration to bridge technological divides within the Global South.
The meeting concluded with Her Royal Highness’s assurance of continued institutional support for COMSATS-led initiatives and her appreciation for the organization’s consistent efforts in catalyzing scientific cooperation. Ambassador Dr. Zakaria, in turn, presented a commemorative photo album depicting historic visits of the Jordanian Royal Family to Pakistan, symbolizing the enduring bonds of friendship and mutual respect between the two brotherly nations.
