Pakistan and the United States have extended their Science and Technology Cooperation agreement for another five years in a significant development. The extension of the agreement was marked by the exchange of diplomatic notes between officials of both governments.
Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States, Masood Khan, and Jason Donovan, the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Cooperation in the Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs at the US Department of State, were present at the ceremony. Muhammad Saad Ahmed, representing the Government of Pakistan, and Michelle Sheckells from the US State Department exchanged the documents.
The primary purposes of this agreement are to strengthen the scientific, technological, and engineering capabilities of both countries, expand relations between their scientific and technological communities, and promote cooperation for peaceful scientific and technological purposes.
Under this agreement, Pakistan and the United States will collaborate through various means, including the exchange of scientific and technical information, the exchange of scientists and technical experts, joint seminars and meetings, training, joint research projects, educational exchanges, establishing science-based public-private partnerships, and other forms of scientific and technological cooperation as mutually agreed upon.
This agreement, initially signed on June 25, 2003, has been extended every five years since then. Ambassador Masood Khan welcomed the extension, emphasizing its role as a framework for promoting cooperation in addressing challenges related to climate change, energy, agriculture, and IT. He expressed hope that this collaborative environment in science and technology would pave the way for a comprehensive dialogue and a strong partnership between the two countries in these fields.
