Islamabad: A high-level academic delegation from Bangladesh concluded a productive week-long visit to Pakistan, culminating in the signing of over 20 Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with top Pakistani universities and industry partners.
The visit, held from June 16 to 21, was organized by the OIC Ministerial Standing Committee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation (COMSTECH), and is being hailed as a milestone in fostering research and educational collaboration between the two countries.
The seven-member delegation included vice chancellors and senior officials from major Bangladeshi universities. During their tour, the delegation visited key academic institutions in Lahore, Islamabad, and Murree—many of which are members of the COMSTECH Consortium of Excellence (CCoE).
The MoUs encompass diverse areas of collaboration such as faculty and student exchange programs, joint research initiatives, academic partnerships, shared use of infrastructure, conference co-hosting, and PhD tuition waivers. One of the key highlights of the visit was an agreement with Gourmet Foods, which will provide industrial internships to Bangladeshi students, strengthening links between academia and industry while enhancing practical skill development.
The delegation was welcomed at a number of receptions hosted by prominent figures including Dr. Chaudhary Abdul Rehman, Chairman of the Association of Private Sector Universities of Pakistan; H.E. Md. Iqbal Hussain Khan, High Commissioner of Bangladesh to Pakistan; and Prof. Dr. Muhammad Iqbal Choudhary, Coordinator General of COMSTECH. These engagements provided opportunities for in-depth discussions on long-term institutional partnerships.
Describing the visit as “historic and highly productive,” the Bangladeshi delegates commended their Pakistani counterparts for their vision and hospitality. They also expressed gratitude to COMSTECH for facilitating the mission and warmly welcomed the announcement of 100 scholarships for Bangladeshi students, jointly offered by COMSTECH and the University of Lahore.
This academic exchange underscores COMSTECH’s continued commitment to enhancing educational and scientific collaboration among OIC member states, while also reinforcing the long-standing educational and cultural ties between Bangladesh and Pakistan.
