30 Years of Pakistan - Kyrgyzstan Relations: Progress and Perspectives Incumbent and Former Presidents of ECOSF joined in
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A seminar on; “30 Years of Pakistan - Kyrgyzstan Relations: Progress and Perspectives” was organized by the Institute of Peace and Diplomatic Studies (IPDS), the Embassy of Kyrgyz Republic in Pakistan and the Riphah Institute of Public Policy (RIPP) of the Riphah International University Islamabad at the RIPP campus. A good number of scholars, researchers, policy experts, students and diplomats attended the seminar.
President ECOSF Professor Seyed Komail Tayebi and the Advisor and Immediate Past President ECOSF Professor Manzoor H. Soomro joined the seminar on behalf of the Foundation. Prof. Soomro was one of the keynote speakers in the seminar.
The President of IPDS Ms. Farhat Asif opened the seminar by welcoming the participants and highlighting the importance of diplomatic and trade relationship between the two brotherly countries- Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan. She appreciated the efforts of Ambassador of Kyrgyz Republic in Pakistan, the Founder President ECOSF Prof. Soomro and Dr. Rashid Aftab the Director of RIPP for their cooperation. She specially welcomed the new President of ECOSF Prof. Tayebi for joining the seminar.
The Ambassador of Kyrgyzstan H.E. Mr. Ulanbek Totuiaev made the first key note speech by thanking the organizing partners and keynote speakers. He then went on to highlight the ongoing trade and diplomatic cooperation between the two countries. He announced the establishment of a Trade House and said that the “Global Business Alliance” a growing network of traders has initiated the unique concept in collaboration with the Kyrgyz Embassy in Pakistan. The Ambassador pointed out that a large number of students from Pakistan are studying in Kyrgyzstan which helps in cultural binding between the two nations. He also said that both the countries were looking into the direct flights between the two countries to facilitate business and trade development and people to people contacts.
Next, Prof. S. Sohail Naqvi the former Rector of the University of Central Asia with main campus in Bishkek spoke in the seminar. He highlighted the ongoing cooperation in the higher education sector and the student exchange. He also spoke about the strengths of his former university and emphasized on innovation for promoting a knowledge economy.
Prof. Manzoor Soomro the former President of ECO Science Foundation highlighted the key role of science, engineering, technology and innovation (SETI) and the STEM education for socio-economic uplift of the whole ECO Region including Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan. He shared some of the ongoing initiatives of ECOSF for promotion of Science Education across the board, Engineering Education and accreditation of engineering qualification so as to provide across the region mobility of engineers, and of course innovation. Dr. Soomro emphasized on the link between the school education, innovation, higher education and the industrial/economic development, thereby sharing the ECOSF’s IBSE programme and the ongoing collaboration with the Belt and Road International Science Education Consortium (BRISEC); of which Prof. Soomro is an elected Vice President for training of educators, teachers and instructors. He also spoke of the importance of learning spaces and organizing the Teenager Maker Camps and Teachers workshops under BRISEC and nurturing of NGOs interested in such activities, like the International Center for Scientific Cooperation (ICSC) of Kazakhstan which is training the youth in Central Asia including Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan.
Finally, Dr. Rashid Aftab of the RIPP concluded the seminar and thanked all the partners, speakers and participants. He urged the institutions to promote joint research on the policies and relationships between the two countries.
After the seminar, an exhibition of photographs of Pakistani and Kyrgyz Government dignitaries and officials’ exchanges was opened and visited by all the participants and speakers.