On 21st July 2026, The Commission on Science and Technology for Sustainable Development in the South (COMSATS) and Oxford Policy Management (OPM) Pakistan signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish a strategic partnership aimed at promoting collaboration in the fields of earth sciences, climate resilience, and disaster risk reduction through science, technology, and innovation (STI).
The MoU was signed by the Executive Director of COMSATS, Ambassador Dr. Mohammad Nafees Zakaria, and the Country Director of OPM Pakistan, Mr. Abdur Rauf Khan, in the presence of senior officials from both institutions.
The signing ceremony was attended by Ambassadors, High Commissioners, and diplomats including Turkmenistan, Nigeria, Somalia, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Syria, Yemen, and Zimbabwe. Representatives of international organizations also participated in the ceremony, reflecting the growing importance of multi-stakeholder partnerships in advancing science-led solutions for sustainable development.
Executive Director, COMSATS, Ambassador Dr. Mohammad Nafees Zakaria underscored the importance of strengthening institutional partnerships to address emerging global challenges through science, technology, and innovation. He noted that climate change, disaster risk reduction, and environmental sustainability require collaborative approaches that bring together governments, academia, research institutions, development partners, and the private sector. Amb Zakaria expressed confidence that the partnership between COMSATS and OPM Pakistan would facilitate knowledge exchange, and contribute to evidence-based policymaking and capacity-building across the Global South.
Mr. Abdur Rauf Khan, Country Director of OPM Pakistan, appreciated the opportunity to formalize cooperation with COMSATS and reaffirmed OPM's commitment to working jointly on initiatives that support policy formulation, climate resilience, disaster preparedness, and sustainable development.
Under the framework of the MoU, COMSATS and OPM Pakistan will collaborate in promoting South-South cooperation, mobilizing scientific and technological institutions, facilitating knowledge exchange and policy dialogue, jointly designing and implementing capacity-building programmes, research initiatives, and technical cooperation activities to enhance climate resilience and disaster risk reduction across the Global South.
The partnership reinforces COMSATS' strategic efforts to deepen international cooperation and harness science, technology, and innovation in support of sustainable development, resilience, and inclusive growth across the Global South.
