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COMSTECH is a Ministerial Standing Committee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation that was brought into existence by the Third Islamic Summit Conference held in Makkah Al-Mukharramah/Taif in January 1981. The President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is its Chairman. The committee is entrusted with the follow up of the implementation of resolutions adopted by the Islamic Conference in scientific and technological fields, examining all possible means of strengthening cooperation among the OIC member states in those areas of science and technology that are crucial for the scientific development of the OIC region, and putting forward programs and proposals likely to improve the scientific and technological capabilities of the OIC member states in the fields of science and technology.

Its aims and objectives, as contained in Article-5 of the Statute, are as follows:

  • Assessment of the human and material resources of the member states and determination of science and technological needs and requirements of the Ummah
  • Building up of indigenous capability of member states in the field of science and technology through cooperation and mutual assistance
  • Promotion of continuing cooperation and coordination in scientific and technological areas amongst the member states with a view to achieving collective strength in science and technology for solution of the problems of the member states; and
  • Creation of an effective institutional structure for planning, research and development and monitoring of scientific and technological activities at national, regional, and international levels."

COMSTECH has a three-tiered structure namely:

  • General Assembly,
  • Executive Committee, and,
  • General Secretariat and COMSTECH Secretariat.

The General Assembly of COMSTECH is composed of the Chairman of the Standing Committee, (President of Pakistan) the Ministers in charge of science and technology in the member states, the Secretary General of Organization of the Islamic Conference, and the Coordinator General of COMSTECH.

The General Assembly exercises the following functions:

  • Implements all decisions taken by the Islamic Summit in relation to COMSTECH;
  • Considers the programs and plan of action of COMSTECH proposed by the member states and the Executive Committee;
  • Considers the reports presented by the relevant organizations of OIC for the purpose of coordination and cooperation;
  • Discusses and approves the program and budget submitted by the Executive Committee of COMSTECH;
  • Adopts or amends Rules of Procedure for the transaction of its business;
  • Approves the establishment of any organization, institution or committee under COMSTECH;
  • Exercises such incidental powers as are necessary for giving effect to the purpose of COMSTECH.

Article-8 (iv) of its Rules of Procedure states:

"The General Assembly shall meet in a regular session at the request of its Chairman at least once every two years. It may meet in special session at request of its Chairman or of any Member State. In case a request for the meeting is made by a Member State it shall be submitted for the approval of the absolute majority of Member States of the said committee.”

The General Assembly meeting of COMSTECH is presided over by the President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan in his capacity as the Chairman of the Standing Committee. As a Ministerial Standing Committee, all the member states of the Organization of Islamic Conference are members of COMSTECH in accordance with Article-4 of the Rules of Procedure:

  • “The COMSTECH shall be composed of all the Member States of the Organization represented by their ministers of science and technology or other duly nominated representatives and chaired by the President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan who having been nominated by the Summit shall be the ex-officio Chairman of the COMSTECH.
  • The Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan shall be the ex-officio Co-Chairman of COMSTECH.
  • Any state, which is not a member of the Organization but enjoys the status of observer, shall have the same status in the COMSTECH.”

Organizations of the OIC system that have a stake in development of science and technology have also been invited to attend the 13th General Assembly session of the COMSTECH as per Article-10 section 2 that states:

“The General Assembly sessions shall be attended, without right of vote by:

  • Observer members of the Organization
  • Members of the Executive Committee or
  • Subsidiary organs, specialized and affiliated institutions of the Organization operating in the fields of science and technology; and
  • Regional and international institutions and agencies carrying out activities in the fields of science and technology.”

The General Assembly has so far held twelve meetings i.e. in May 1983, December 1983 November 1986, May 1989, November 1991, September 1993, December 1995, December 1997, November 1999, February 2002, December 2003 and February 2006.

The Provisional Agenda for the thirteenth meeting of General Assembly was approved by the Executive Committee during its twenty-fifth meeting held in Muscat, Sultanate of Oman, in January 2007.

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