Moalims

ISLAMABAD: The Kingdom of Morocco has joined the COMSATS University as its 22nd Member State after signing of an accession agreement between the two sides.
Morocco Minister of Higher Education, Scientific Research and Training Lahcen Daoud inked the agreement on behalf of the government, while COMSATS Executive Director Dr Imtinan Elahi Qureshi signed the agreement on behalf of COMSATS.
Morocco’s membership of COMSATS (Commission on Science and Technology for Sustainable Development in the South) came as a result of active interactions and consultations by COMSATS executive director with senior Moroccan government officials.
The process was initiated with a formal invitation to the government of Morocco through the Moroccan Ministry of Higher Education, Scientific Research and Training, says a press note issued by the COMSATS on Wednesday.
With the high patronage of King Mohammed VI and the leadership of the Minster, the formalities were completed in time to enable Morocco to be represented at the 3rd Commission Meeting of COMSATS to be held on October 27, in Accra, Ghana.
Moroccan Ambassador in Islamabad Mustapha Salahdine and Pakistan Ambassador in Rabat Waheed-ul-Hasan played an important part to this effect. The latter also present at the signing ceremony.
Speaking on the occasion, Daoudi praised Pakistan as a country with admirable science and technology capacity and recognized the laudable commitment of Pakistan in hosting COMSATS Secretariat in Islamabad.
He recalled that Morocco was the centre of culture, science and education in 12th century and played a significant role for world civilisation. He further stated that Morocco is looking forward to playing a constructive role as COMSATS’ member state.
In his short statement on the occasion, Dr Qureshi spelled out some unique features of COMSATS as an intergovernmental organisation and gave several reasons why COMSATS’ membership is good for Morocco. He also noted the unique geo-political importance of Morocco as the doorway to Europe and as a country where the first ever university of the world was established in 8th century.
With Morocco joining COMSATS, the geographic representation at COMSATS from Asia and Africa balances off with 10 member states each, while there are two more member states from Latin America. Morocco can now benefit from the consultations and technical exchanges made at various COMSATS’ forums. It is expected that a suitable Moroccan Research and Development institution will be nominated to join COMSATS’ Network of International Science and Technology Centres of Excellence, which at present has a membership of 20 centres from four continents.
The Moroccan students can now benefit from the scholarships for COMSATS’ member states offered by various nodes of COMSATS. Similarly, Moroccan Science and Technological institutions can benefit from various other initiatives of COMSATS, such as the International Thematic Research Groups, Distinguished Professorship Scheme, as well as capacity building and knowledge sharing activities.

News Reference: http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/islamabad/16-Jul-2015/morocco-joins-comsats-as-22nd-member-state