- Commission on Science and Technology for Sustainable Development in the South
-
Commission on Science and Technology for Sustainable Development in the South (COMSATS) 
Formation 4–5 October 1994 Type Intergovernmental organization Headquarters Islamabad, Pakistan Membership 21 countries from Asia, Africa and Latin America Executive director 
Imtinan Elahi QureshiWebsite COMSATS The Commission on Science and Technology for Sustainable Development in the South (COMSATS) is an intergovernmental organization based in Islamabad, Pakistan. The commission, founded in 1994, hopes to achieve sustainable development in developing countries through the use of science and technology.[1] COMSATS has 21 member countries in three continents and funds 16 educational institutions,[2][3] including Pakistan's COMSATS Institute of Information Technology (CIIT).[4][5] The current executive director of COMSATS is Imtinan Elahi Qureshi,[2] who succeeded Hameed Ahmed Khan.[6]
Contents
History
The organization was conceived by Nobel laureate Abdus Salam and the Third World Academy of Sciences (TWAS) and was officially formed on 4–5 October 1994. During that time, representatives from 36 countries met in Islamabad to discuss the establishment of COMSATS. Attendees of the meeting included various ministers, diplomats from Islamabad, and delegates from other organizations, such as UNESCO and the World Bank.[7]
In 1996, Global One (an international collaboration between France Telecom, Sprint Nextel, and Deutsche Telekom) announced a contract with COMSATS to provide Internet access across Pakistan,[8] and the commission now operates COMSATS Internet Services (CIS), an Internet service provider.[9] In fall 1999, the organization began offering Internet access to residents of Gilgit.[10] In 2005, a telehealth project initiated by COMSATS went into effect, hoping to increase access to health education in northern Pakistan. The program was aided by the Baltistan Health and Education Foundation as well as Canada's International Development Research Centre.[11]
In October 2010, during the fifth Islamic Conference of Ministers of Higher Education and Scientific Research, COMSATS extended the possibility of membership to 43 additional Muslim nations.[2]
See also
References
- Notes
- ^ Wootton, Patil & Ho 2009, p. 242
- ^ a b c "COMSATS offers membership to Muslim countries". Associated Press of Pakistan (Associated Press of Pakistan). 20 October 2010. http://www.app.com.pk/en_/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=119660&Itemid=1. Retrieved 22 November 2010.
- ^ Wootton, Patil & Ho 2009, pp. 242–243
- ^ "COMSATS to launch dual degree programme". Daily Times (Media Times Ltd.). 19 July 2010. http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2010\07\19\story_19-7-2010_pg11_5. Retrieved 21 November 2010.
- ^ Muhammad, Peer (11 November 2010). "Over 600 graduate from COMSATS". The Express Tribune (The Express Tribune News Network). http://tribune.com.pk/story/75438/over-600-graduate-from-comsats/. Retrieved 21 November 2010.
- ^ "Health professionals’ network to be formed for tele-health promotion". Daily Times (Media Times Ltd.). 22 August 2007. http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007\08\22\story_22-8-2007_pg7_48. Retrieved 22 November 2010.
- ^ Gupta 2006, pp. 550–551
- ^ Polishuk 1996, p. 3
- ^ Wootton, Patil & Ho 2009, p. 244
- ^ Cook 2007, p. 185
- ^ Wootton, Patil & Ho 2009, p. 243
- Bibliography
- Cook, Nancy (2007). Gender, Identity, and Imperialism: Women Development Workers in Pakistan. Macmillan Publishers. ISBN 9781403979919. http://books.google.com/books?id=YMQTq6YhfSUC&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false.
- Gupta, Om (2006). Encyclopaedia of India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. Gyan Publishing House. ISBN 9788182053892. http://books.google.com/books?id=KR9m6TzO-PsC&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false.
- Polishuk, Paul, ed (December 1996). "Global One Technology Brings New Capabilities to Emerging Nations". Russian Telecom Newsletter (Information Gatekeepers, Inc.) 3 (12). ISSN 1080-2169. http://books.google.com/books?id=Lt_osTlbQlMC&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false.
- Wootton, Richard; Patil, Nivritti G.; Ho, Kendall (2009). Telehealth in the Developing World. International Development Research Centre. ISBN 9781853157844. http://books.google.com/books?id=MkX5zjCoVIcC&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false.
External links
Categories:- Third World Academy of Sciences
- Organizations established in 1994
- Intergovernmental organizations
- Organisations based in Pakistan
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