Pakistan will host the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) summit on science and technology innovation early next year to promote cooperation among member countries and to work out a comprehensive strategy to help eradicate poverty.

This was announced by Naeem Khan, assistant secretary general of OIC at a function in Riyadh on Monday night. He said the summit will be the first of its kind with high-level delegations participating from OIC countries.

Addressing the function organized by prominent Pakistani businessman Chaudhry Faryad to felicitate him for his appointment to the OIC post, Khan said, “Our aim is to forge comprehensive ties among OIC members in order to provide skills-based training to their people.”

“The Muslim Ummah has to equip itself with modern education especially in the field of science and technology to achieve success,” he noted.

“Many parts of the world are witnessing rapid growth in scientific innovation, which is helping them experience remarkable growth and overall development of their people. Having been to several countries, I have come to the conclusion that there is no way out for us but to work vigorously in this field for the Ummah at large and provide technical and skills-based training on a massive scale which will also help eradicate poverty,” he said.

He added that skills-based human resources will be the key to success in Pakistan as they will help to increase the general income of people and contribute to economic growth.

Khan, who was earlier Pakistan’s ambassador in Riyadh, said his country has a large talent pool which can benefit others and alleviate the poverty in Pakistan and internationally.

“We are therefore working collectively to usher in the desired economic growth in OIC countries,” he added. He said that the government of Pakistan was keen to host the science and technology summit and the OIC had extended all cooperation.

Notably, Pakistan holds the OIC chair for the Standing Committee on Science and Technology (Comstech), an effective and vibrant body for promoting science and technology among the member states and has been playing a constructive role.