Fellowship scheme for refugees planned

COMSTECH, the Permanent Standing Committee of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation in Pakistan, and the University of Sargodha agreed to jointly collaborate on a special fellowship programme for refugee and displaced researchers and scientists under "COMSTECH Science Exile Programme".

This decision was made in a meeting between COMSTECH Coordinator General Prof. Dr. Muhammad Iqbal Chaudhry and University of Sargodha Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Qaiser Abbas.

The University of Sargodha was also a member of the COMSTECH Consortium of Excellence. During the meeting, Professor Dr. Muhammad Iqbal Chaudhry emphasized the importance of this project and said that "Millions of people have been displaced due to conflicts around the world, severely affecting research and higher education.

This fellowship program will provide an opportunity to displaced and refugee scholars, who have not yet found a safe host country, the opportunity to continue their research within the institutions of the COMSTECH Consortium of Excellence."

Applications were being invited from scholars, researchers, and scientists from conflict-affected areas such as Afghanistan, Palestine, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Lebanon, and Yemen.

The program aimed to promote academic stability and enable displaced researchers to continue their work.