WNAM REPORT: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Government of Pakistan, in collaboration with the OIC Ministerial Standing Committee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation (COMSTECH), launched the first issue of 2026 of the Journal of Science Communication and Diplomacy at a ceremony held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, marking two years of the journal’s successful publication.
The ceremony was graced by Foreign Secretary Ambassador Amna Baloch as the Chief Guest. It was attended by ambassadors, diplomats, scientists, academics, heads of national organizations, members of editorial board, senior officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and COMSTECH, including ambassadors from Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, Tajikistan and Mauritius, diplomats from Jordan, Azerbaijan ,senior officials of the ECO Science Foundation, Higher Education Commission Pakistan Academy of Sciences and other leading scientific and academic institutions.
In his address, Coordinator General COMSTECH, Prof. Dr. Muhammad Iqbal Choudhary, said that science diplomacy has become one of the most effective instruments for addressing global challenges through international cooperation, scientific knowledge and innovation. He emphasized that the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), representing 57 member states, possesses enormous scientific and intellectual potential which can be harnessed through stronger collaboration among universities, research institutions, governments and industry.
Prof. Choudhary said the Journal of Science Communication and Diplomacy has emerged as an important platform connecting diplomats, scientists, academics and policymakers to promote evidence-based policymaking and strengthen the interface between science, technology and international relations among OIC member states. He states that COMSTECH continues to advance scientific cooperation across the Muslim world through scholarships, fellowships, research collaborations, capacity-building programmes, academic mobility and science diplomacy initiatives aimed at supporting sustainable development in OIC member states.
Addressing the ceremony, Foreign Secretary Ambassador Amna Baloch underscored that today’s global challenges require collective solutions and highlighted the increasingly important role of science diplomacy in bridging science and foreign policy. She emphasized the need for enhanced scientific cooperation within the OIC and greater participation of developing countries in shaping the governance of emerging technologies. She also appreciated the collaboration between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and COMSTECH in publishing the journal.
The first issue of 2026 features eleven articles, including seven authored by diplomats from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, reflecting Pakistan’s growing contribution to science diplomacy and international scientific cooperation.
The Journal of Science Communication and Diplomacy serves as a dedicated platform for diplomats, scientists, academics and policy practitioners to exchange ideas and contribute to policy discourse at the intersection of science, technology and international relations while promoting international scientific collaboration.
