The twenty-first century is going to be a decisive century in defining the shape of the new World Order. Pakistan

The twenty-first century is going to be a decisive century in defining the shape of the new World Order. Pakistan
Inaugural Speech of Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani
Prime Minister of Pakistan
On 2nd COMSATS Commission meeting
(April 16, 2012)
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 Excellencies, distinguished guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen;
Assalam-o-Alaikum

First of all, I would like to express my profound thanks to all of you for attending the 2ndmeeting of the Commission on Science and Technology for Sustainable Development in the South. I am particularly thankful to the members of the Commission representing their Heads of State or Governments for accepting my invitation and travelling long distances to come to Islamabad from all over the world. We are also grateful to the representatives of the international organizations for attending this Meeting as observers. I am confident that the Commission will be able to draw wisdom and knowledge from consultations and deliberations during the course of the meeting.

It is my great pleasure to inaugurate the second meeting of the Commission. The first meeting was held in 1994 which proved to be an historic occasion for Pakistan. It provided us with an opportunity to create a prestigious international organization in the form of COMSATS for assisting the developing world in its quest for socio-economic uplift of the masses. We were fortunate to adopt the vision and passion of our great scientific genius, Late Prof. Dr. Abdus Salam, the Nobel Laureate in Physics, who worked all his life to promote the use of science and technology in third world countries for solution to their problems of poverty, ignorance and backwardness.

Ladies and Gentlemen;

I am glad that COMSATS has strived hard to carry out this noble mission for the past seventeen years and has succeeded in achieving commendable results. The credit of realizing the great dream of Prof. Salam and other distinguished founding fathers of COMSATS also goes squarely to Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto (Shaheed), the then Prime Minister of Pakistan, who not only welcomed the idea of establishing COMSATS but also provided solid political and financial support to host the COMSATS’ Secretariat in Islamabad on a permanent basis.

Such far- sighted decisions, which reflect the aspirations of the people, can only be taken by democratically elected governments. COMSATS is a noble legacy of Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto and my government is committed to carry this legacy forward for the welfare of not only the people of Pakistan but also for all the member countries of COMSATS. I am confident that all other member countries will stand by us in extending their full support to the future efforts of COMSATS to bring peace, prosperity and socio-economic well-being to the poor segments of our societies.

Distinguished audience

The twenty-first century is going to be a decisive century in defining the shape of the new World Order. Uncontrolled population increases in the developing countries, dilemmas of energy and industrial growth versus climate hazards, weaknesses in global economic management system, mindless global conflicts, rising costs of food, health and education, widening gaps of trust and confidence between the South and the North are some of the major challenges which will influence the course of our destinies and those of our coming generations.

A still higher challenge will be the ever widening knowledge gap between the advanced countries and the developing countries, specially in their different S&T capacities. The negative effects of this gap will be borne mainly by the populations of developing countries. It is very clear that we cannot make significant progress in science and technology unless we cooperate with one another, pool our available intellectual and economic resources for collective benefits and above all give a central place to science and technology in our policy decisions backed with strong political and financial support.

That is why the South-South cooperation is indispensable for the sustainable progress of the developing world in the present century. The shrinking of our world into a small global village due to the strong impact of Information and Communication Technologies has brought forth unprecedented opportunities for the developing countries for stronger South-South and North-South cooperation in several areas like climate change, food and water supplies and exploitation of renewable energy resources.

Ladies and Gentlemen;

Transfer of technology and economic resources from the developed to the developing countries will have to be ensured in an effective manner if the world as a whole has to escape from the horrible consequences of natural disasters and energy crises. I call upon the United Nations Organization to come forward and play a more proactive role in facilitating the afore-mentioned opportunities to reach the developing countries. The world body needs to revisit the effectiveness of its international initiatives like the Millennium Development Goals for which effective mechanisms to assist the developing nations for achieving these goals have yet to be put in place.
Such initiatives have to be more aligned to the needs of the poor countries through closer dialogue with the local communities. We will have an opportunity to reiterate our point of view at the Rio+20 summit later this year. New strategies will have to be devised to increase the potential of science and technology in the developing countries to address their immediate economic needs. I would advise COMSATS to initiate new projects to bring its member countries closer to the relevant organs of the United Nations so that the opportunities meant for the developing countries in the international agreements such as climate change and socio-economic development are easily brought to their door-steps.

I would like to take this opportunity to felicitate COMSATS on the achievements during the last seventeen years. In this respect special thanks go to the COMSATS’ member countries and their leadership for providing continued cooperation for the programmes of COMSATS. The COMSATS’ Network of International Science and Technology Centres of Excellence has played a commendable role in providing scientific and technological support to COMSATS’ various projects linked to capacity building and research facilitation. I am confident that the Network will now be fully prepared to successfully undertake the newly launched programme of International Thematic Research for socio-economic development by COMSATS.

I appreciate the timely launching of this useful programme as it is going to create stronger bonds of South-South cooperation among the COMSATS member countries that will further help them in enhancing their indigenous scientific capacities in a cost-effective manner. I shall be looking forward to see the positive results of this praiseworthy endeavour.

Ladies and gentlemen!

Let us resolve that our Governments will significantly enhance the importance of science and technology in the social fabric of our nations. Let this resolve be seen through our efforts of further strengthening the COMSATS in coming years. COMSATS has charted out its strategy and action plan for the next five years that will be considered by its Coordinating Council next month. We need to ensure the long-term availability of sufficient funds for COMSATS to implement its enhanced programme for our common benefit. For this purpose I would like to propose for your consideration, the establishment of an Endowment Fund of US $ 10 million with input from the member countries and international donor organizations. If this is agreed in principle during this meeting, my government is ready to contribute US $ 01 million towards the COMSATS Endowment Fund.

In the end, I would like to place on record my sincere appreciation of Mr. Changez Khan Jamali, the Minister of Science and Technology, and his Ministry for hosting the Commissions’ meeting and for extending his help and support to COMSATS as its Focal Point in Pakistan.

In the end, I would like to express my sincere wish that the meeting elects its next Chairperson with a unanimous vote. In anticipation, I am pleased to extend my cordial congratulations to my successor. I wish all the distinguished members of the Commission and representatives of the international organizations a very happy and enjoyable stay in Islamabad.

I extend you my best wishes and hope that you will succeed in your efforts to transform the science and technology landscape in the member countries to make them prosperous.

Pakistan Paindabad