President ECOSF called on the renowned Scientist of Pakistan Prof. Dr. Atta-ur-Rehman, FRS

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While, on holidays in Karachi, Prof. Dr. Manzoor H. Soomro President ECO Science Foundation (ECOSF) called upon the renowned scientist of Pakistan Prof. Dr. Atta-ur-Rehman, FRS on December 10, 2018 in his laboratory at the International Centre for Chemical and Biological Sciences (ICCBS), University of Karachi. During the meeting, President ECOSF briefly introduced the Foundation and its goals & objectives and the on-going programmes. Prof. Soomro also shared with Professor Atta that ECOSF in collaboration with IAP SEP and La main a la pate Foundation under the aegis of Academy of Sciences of France, has been implementing the "Inquiry Based Science Education- IBSE" for STEM teaching, in Kazakhstan, Pakistan and Iran since 2015, 2016 and 2017 respectively. He further shared that since 2017, ECOSF has developed strong cooperation with China Association for Science and Technology (CAST) and its Children and Youth Science Center (CYSC) in Beijing for promotion of STEM-IBSE and Teenager Maker Camps; whereby ECOSF mobilizes young students and their teachers from 10 ECO member countries including Pakistan to join activities, Olympiads, competitions and camps in China under the Chinese "Belt & Road" Initiative. So far in two years, some 76 students and teachers from ECO countries have participated, Dr. Soomro said. He further said that in his personal capacity, Prof. Soomro has been elected as Vice President of the "Belt and Road Science Education Coordinating Committee" responsible for capacity building of school teachers.

Prof. Soomro emphasized that a strong STEM base and good quality STEM education is very much needed at grass root level to ensure quality higher education and innovation leading to scio-economic development. For realization of this objective, President ECOSF proposed formation of a working linkage among Universities, Teacher Training Institutes/Schools and Industry, as Industry too, needs STEM-conversant skilful workforce. He also shared that in May 2017 and April 2018, ECOSF together with HEC Pakistan, French La main a la pate Foundation, IAP SEP and Pakistan Academy of Sciences (PAS)  had organized a couple of International Forums on Science education at HEC Islamabad. One in 2018 was themed: "Quality SCIENCE Education at Schools- A Must for Quality Higher Education & Economic Development". Therein, Academia at Higher Education, School Teachers, Students of Universities and schools, Policy Makers, Industry and Media along with IAP SEP Chair (Prof Lee Cheong from Malaysia) and its Global Council as well as PAS President had participated. The report along with my note was also sent to present Chairman HEC for further steps in this regards.

Once again, President ECOSF mentioned that Economic Cooperation Organizations (ECO) Region of 10 countries; Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, holds a great potential market for Pakistan especially for the knowledge economy strengths including higher education human resources and Industry; because a new consumerist Middle Class is growing fast especially in Central Asia and in this context, the only catalyst organization present for the promotion of STI based economic development is, the ECO Science Foundation. If strengthened and patronised well, ECOSF can help Pakistan a lot especially when the Foundation in addition to member states, have good collaboration with Chinese institutions and the fact that three of the China-supported Economic Corridors pass through ECO Members- Pakistan, Tajikistan and Kazakhstan.