Islamabad, The Federal Minister for Science and Technology, Dr. Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, has inaugurated a program offering 5,000 fellowships to Palestinian students, marking a significant expansion in educational support and collaboration between Pakistan and Palestine. This initiative, in partnership with the Association of Private Universities of Pakistan (APSUP) and the COMSTECH consortium, aims to foster academic growth in science and technology fields among Palestinian scholars.

According to Press Information Department, Dr. Siddiqui, at the inauguration, underscored the fellowship program as a gesture of goodwill from Pakistan to Palestine, reflecting the deep-rooted ties between the two nations. The initiative, which aligns with the vision of Pakistan’s founder Muhammad Ali Jinnah, seeks to build scientific and technological capacities among Palestinian youth. Coordinator General of COMSTECH, Professor Dr. Muhammad Iqbal Chaudhry, detailed the phased approach of the program, starting with 500 fellowships and expanding to 5,000 in its second phase, with the formal announcement anticipated from the Secretary-General of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).

The event also heard from the Secretary-General of the OIC, Hussein Ibrahim Taha, who acknowledged the significant collaboration effort, and the Palestinian Ambassador to Pakistan, Ahmad Jawad Rabie, who expressed gratitude for the educational opportunities provided to Palestinian students. The ceremony highlighted the cultural and historical context of Palestine and the ongoing support from various international representatives.