A five-member delegation of COMSATS, led by Dr. Kamran Jahangir, Advisor (TAC), visited the Embassy of Republic of Kazakhstan in order to have a meeting with H.E. Barlybay Sadykov, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Kazakhstan to Pakistan. The honourable Ambassador was accompanied by Mr. Darkhan Nursadykov, Counselor, Embassy of Kazakhstan, while other members of COMSATS’ delegation included Mr. Tajammul Hussain, Advisor (Programmes) COMSATS; Mr. Asif Noor, Director, Institute of Peace and Diplomatic Studies (IPD); Mr. Farhan Ansari, Sr. Assistant Director (Programmes) COMSATS; and Mr. Laeeq Jaswal, Manager Strategic Partnerships, COMSATS.
Dr. Jahangir briefed the Ambassador about the mission, member countries, centres of excellence, flagship projects, and ongoing programmes and activities of COMSATS. It was recalled that Kazakhstan is a founding member of COMSATS, and the Al-Farabi Kazakh National University (KazNU) is affiliated with COMSATS as a Centre of Excellence since 2016. The Ambassador was also acquainted with the outcomes of the 21st meeting of COMSATS Coordinating Council (3-4 April 2018), hosted by KazNU in Almaty. Mr. Tajammul Hussain further highlighted the programmes of COMSATS, including the working of Centres of Excellence and International Thematic Research Groups, as well as shared the key outcomes of two workshops recently organized by COMSATS at Almaty in the fields of cyber security and repair & maintenance of scientific instruments.
On behalf of COMSATS, Dr. Jahangir offered COMSATS’ support for establishment of a joint university in Kazakhstan, exchange of scientists and scholars between Kazakhstan and other member countries, exchange of delegations comprising scientists and academicians, setting-up of Al-Farabi Chair in universities of Pakistan, and collaboration in the field of telehealth.
The honourable Ambassador appreciated the proposals, and pledged to forward the same to Astana for consideration. He also appreciated the programmes and activities of COMSATS, and highlighted the importance of global partnerships in achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals. He shed light on the recent initiatives of Kazakhstan in promoting green technologies as well as ensuring cyber security.
Other matters discussed during the meeting included: means of facilitating South-South and Triangular cooperation, determining the priorities of the developing countries for achieving socio-economic development, and sharing of human and technological resources among the developing countries for addressing common challenges.
