President Lays Foundation Stone of COMSATS Headquarters Building

H.E. Mr. Muhammad Rafiq Tarar, President of Islamic Republic of Pakistan laid the foundation stone of COMSATS Headquarters Building in Islamabad, on Tuesday April 18, 2000. Prof. Dr. Atta-ur-Rehman, Federal Minister of Science and Technology, Government of Pakistan was also present at the occasion. Dr. Hameed A Khan, Executive Director COMSATS alongwith the other officials, welcomed the distinguished guests on their arrival at the building site in G-5/2 opposite Radio Pakistan. H.E. The President unveiled the Foundation Plaque of COMSATS Headquarters in the presence of dignitaries and diplomats of the Foreign missions residing in Islamabad. After that Dua was offered for the success of the project. The chief guest was then given a brief presentation by NESPAK, consultants of COMSATS, on the structure, design of the construction project. After the ceremony at the site, the guests were escorted to the Auditorium of Pakistan Academy of Sciences on Constitution Avenue for the proceedings. Dr. Hameed Ahmad Khan, Executive Director of COMSATS in his welcome address gave a brief review of COMSATS’ activities. Acknowledging Government of Pakistan support for COMSATS and its endeavours, he thanked the President and Federal Minister for gracing the occasion with their presence. Appreciating the efforts of Prof. Dr. Abdus Salam, Dr. Hameed said that his vision of mutual cooperation among the developing countries has not only benefited the third world countries but at the same time has won COMSATS a befitting forum in the community of industrialized and advanced countries.

Federal Minster for Science and Technology, Dr. Atta-ur-Rehman delivered the keynote address highlighting the importance of south-south cooperation and stressed that the developing countries need to develop their own resources in the field of science and technology. Referring to GOP commitment to support the science and technology initiatives, he assured his government will welcome COMSATS’ programs / proposals of science and technology projects for the socio-economic uplift of the third world. The Minister laid special stress on the utilization of information technology in the member countries for human resources development and to increase foreign exchange reserves through software export.

The Minister lauded the efforts made by COMSATS and expressed hope that it would step further in scientific development in coming years. He said that he was inducted as Minister one month ago and he was happy to say that he has launched two extremely important projects for human resources development in Pakistan. The first project was production of 300 Ph.Ds scholars within a year and the other sending Pakistan nationals abroad for higher education in the fields where facilities are not available locally. He announced launching of special funding programmes for universities’ and research institutes’ uplift in 6-8 weeks. He pointed out at the joint programs of COMSTECH and COMSATS in the field of information technology and suggested that research in basic science is yet another area that can be explored by both the parties. To attract industrialists for investment, he emphasized the need of initiating pilot plants phase of projects with detailed economic feasibilities.

H.E. President of Pakistan in his speech commended the efforts put in by the Commission to establish itself firmly during the short period of five years. He showed his understanding of erecting COMSATS own building by relating that it was highly essential to house the organization in its own premises so that it can operate from a firm base and play its part effectively to carry out the mission of highlighting the centrality of science and technology in the process of development, and to ensure proper liaison among the scientific and technological establishments of its 21 member states. He stressed in his address that the developing countries including Pakistan need to invest heavily in human resource development to match the needs of modern times. He also appreciated the endeavour of COMSATS to bring about the social and economic development in the less advantaged countries of the world through scientific and technological applications. 

The President observed that motivating the political will in the developing countries and development of science and technology is a challenging task and COMSATS deserves appreciation for making headways in this difficult area. He further pointed out that technology is a system of knowledge that is required to produce, utilize and control goods and services. A study of the profile of natural and human resources in the developing countries, would reveal that these countries have abundance of natural resources but none of them have been properly exploited. The President was glad to declare that COMSATS has been established with the same mandate to pursue utilization of these natural resources contained in the third-world for up-gradation of scientific knowledge as well as for exchanging the scientific expertise. He expressed the will to share resources present in Pakistan with other developing countries and desired also that Pakistan at the same time would also like to benefit from the experiences and expertise of other countries. It was also urged that the international donor agencies and other financial institutions must support development initiatives of the establishments like COMSATS to provide impetus to south-south and south-north cooperation in science and technology enhancement.