Nasir Murtaza

Commission on Science and Technology for Sustainable Development in the South (COMSATS)

The Commission on Science and Technology for Sustainable Development in the South (COMSATS) is an inter-governmental organization, with its Secretariat based in Islamabad, Pakistan. On invitation from the Prime Minister of Pakistan, representatives from several developing countries met on 4th and 5th October 1994 in Islamabad and agreed to establish the Commission as a high-level forum, represented by Heads of State/Government, aiming at sustainable socio-economic uplift of the developing countries through appropriate applications of science and technology. COMSATS, currently, has a membership of 27 countries, spread across three continents, i.e. Asia, Africa and Latin America. A group of 24 science and technology organizations in different developing countries are also affiliated with COMSATS as its Network of Centres of Excellence. The President of Ghana, Hon. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, is the current Chairperson of COMSATS. COMSATS' operations are performed through a simple but effective organizational structure that is comprised of the following statutory bodies: a) The General Meeting of the Commission; b) The Consultative Committee; c) The Network of International Science and Technology Centres of Excellence for Sustainable Development in the South; and d) The Secretariat of the Commission.