Islamabad, 7Sept. 2004 (WAM)-- President GeneralPervez Musharraf underlined said here today that Muslim countriesmust focus on advancement in the fields of science and technology tomake use of their enormous potentials so as to achieve a sustainablesocio- economic development.
"If we do no acquire expertise in the fields of science and technology,the Muslim world will not be able to achieve the goal of all-round developmentand rise to its full natural and human potential," he stated during ameeting with an 11- member delegation of Organization of Islamic Conference(OIC) Ministers and academicians.
Analysing the state of the Muslim Ummah, the President said it hasbeen blessed with tremendous natural resources but has lagged behind thedeveloped world, mainly due to the huge difference in the vital fieldof technology.
President Musharraf observed that although some Muslim countrieshave made strides in different fields of science and technology, the OICcountries as a whole need to adopt innovative ways for their common development.
"The need is to tap our resources, pay greater attention tohigher eduction, concentrate on human resource development, establishcentres of excellence and identify areas of expanding mutual cooperationfor our collective well-being."The President said the OIC Committee on Science and Technology(COMSTECH) needs to be strengthened for efficient results. This, he said,could be achieved through greater economic contributions from better-offmember countries.
He reaffirmed Pakistan's commitment to the important OIC Committeeand said the country spends one million US dollars to COMSTECH annually.
Minister for Science and Technology Ch Nouraiz Shakoor Khan, ChairmanHigher Education Commission and Coordinator General COMESTECH Dr Ata urRehman were also present on the occasion.
The OIC delegation included delegates from Iran, Palestine, Sudan,Syria, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt and Iraq.
