The Economic Cooperation Organization Regional Planning Council (ECORPC) 28th meeting held in Islamabad to review progress on the implementation of the ECO-approved programs/projects and to consider proposals for new programs and projects for 2018-2019.

While addressing in the meeting President ECO Science Foundation Dr. Manzoor Soomro said, since its inception, ECOSF has transformed itself into a dynamic and agile vehicle to promote Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) and Science Education to help build the capacity of its Member States to respond to the emerging challenges of the future.

“Year 2017 has been a remarkable for the Foundation, as it enhanced the efforts to pursue its goal of promoting scientific and technological research related activities with an end goal to raise socio-economic standing of its member states”, he added.

He further stated that efforts cannot be strengthened until the S&T Fund has some seed money put in by the member states. He clarified that all the modalities for utilization of fund had already been worked out under the “Science and Technology Fund”.However, the pledges for voluntary contribution to the Fund have been made by the Governments of Pakistan, Iran and Afghanistan.

While concluding his remarks he mentioned that while facing difficulties the Foundation is making possible efforts to promote science, technology, innovation and scientific education activities in the region and assured the member states that with increased financial contributions; its activities would increase many fold.