International symposium on sustainable mining begins at COMSTECH

A two-day international symposium titled Unlocking the Role and Potential of Sustainable Mining and Minerals Industry for Momentous Economic Growth in Developing Nations” commenced on Wednesday at the OIC Ministerial Standing Committee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation (COMSTECH) Secretariat in Islamabad

ISLAMABAD, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 20th May, 2026) A two-day international symposium titled Unlocking the Role and Potential of Sustainable Mining and Minerals Industry for Momentous Economic Growth in Developing Nations” commenced on Wednesday at the OIC Ministerial Standing Committee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation (COMSTECH) Secretariat in Islamabad.

The symposium brought together leading scientists, engineers, policymakers, researchers, industry experts, diplomats, academicians, and students from Pakistan and OIC member states to deliberate on sustainable mining, critical minerals, advanced exploration technologies, mineral value addition, and regional cooperation in the minerals sector.

Experts and resource persons from Malaysia, Turkiye, China, Germany, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, and the United Kingdom participated in the symposium alongside representatives from Pakistani universities, research institutions, industry, and regulatory bodies.

The symposium aims to promote scientific collaboration, technology transfer, capacity building, and policy dialogue to help developing countries, particularly OIC member states, utilize their mineral resources for sustainable economic growth and industrial development.

Addressing the inaugural session, Coordinator General OIC-COMSTECH Prof. Dr. M. Iqbal Choudhary said many OIC countries possessed enormous mineral wealth and natural resources, but lacked advanced technologies, value-addition mechanisms, and integrated industrial capacity needed to fully benefit from them.

He emphasized the need for developing human resources and engineering technologies to unlock the full economic potential of the minerals sector.

He observed that rapidly increasing global demand for critical minerals, including copper, lithium, and rare earth elements, had created a historic opportunity for developing countries to become strategic contributors to the future global economy.

Speaking on the occasion, Chairman National Accreditation Council NAVTTC Engr. Mohammad Najeeb Haroon appreciated COMSTECH’s efforts in promoting science, technology, engineering, and technical cooperation across the Muslim world, describing it as the need of the hour for utilizing the vast natural resources available in developing countries.

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He stressed the need for developing indigenous technological capabilities, strengthening skills-based education, and unlocking Pakistan’s vast mineral potential through modern exploration techniques, research collaboration, and industrial partnerships.

Engr. Haroon said cooperation among OIC countries in the fields of mining, engineering, technology transfer, and technical education could help developing nations collectively address economic and industrial challenges and enable them to align with the rapidly evolving global industrial landscape.

Delivering the keynote address, Vice Chancellor Abbottabad University of Science and Technology Prof. Dr. Tahir Irfan Khan highlighted the growing importance of sustainable mining practices, advanced geological research, and mineral value addition for economic development in resource-rich countries

Earlier, Dr. Nasir Mahmood Khan, Adviser Engineering Sciences and Technology at OIC-COMSTECH, presented an overview of the symposium and highlighted its objectives, thematic sessions, and expected outcomes.

He said the symposium would provide a collaborative platform for dialogue among academia, industry leaders, policymakers, engineers, regulators, and international experts to formulate practical recommendations for sustainable mineral development.

Ambassadors, high commissioners, and diplomats from Nigeria, Ethiopia, Tajikistan, Sudan, and Turkmenistan attended the inaugural session along with vice chancellors, rectors, faculty members, researchers, students, and representatives of scientific and industrial organizations.

The technical sessions of the symposium will focus on advanced exploration technologies, mineral processing and value addition, critical minerals, digital mining and automation, environmental sustainability, occupational health and safety, and international cooperation in mining technologies.

The symposium is expected to serve as an important platform for fostering regional collaboration, promoting technology-driven mineral development, and strengthening institutional partnerships among OIC member states.