Islamabad/Rabat, June 24, 2025: Chairman Higher Education Commission (HEC), Pakistan Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed has underlined Pakistan’s resolve to strengthen academic collaboration across the Islamic world.    

Chairman HEC was delivering his keynote address at the opening session of the 6th Vice Chancellors’ Forum, held at ICESCO headquarters in Rabat, Morocco. The Forum, co-organized by HEC Pakistan and ICESCO, brought together rectors, presidents, and vice chancellors from across OIC countries to deliberate on pressing educational themes including sustainability, research impact, climate resilience, and future-ready universities.

Speaking to an audience of higher education leaders, ministers, and international dignitaries, the Chairman HEC highlighted Pakistan’s commitment to collaborative research and climate education. He emphasized the transformative role of universities in responding to emerging global challenges, especially climate change. “In this era of global transformation, the role of universities must be re-envisioned – not merely as custodians of knowledge, but as catalysts for peace, progress, and innovation,” he stated. 

The importance of embedding climate change within higher education systems and research agendas was also underscored by the Chairman HEC, terming it “a generational priority that transcends borders.” He also acknowledged ICESCO’s leadership and expressed appreciation

for the participation of global thought leaders and ministers from Morocco, the Maldives, Libya, and beyond.

Highlighting Pakistan’s initiatives, the Chairman referenced the ILMBANK platform, through which 1332 scholarships have been offered by 25 leading universities of Pakistan to students from OIC

member states. “As the founding contributor to ILMBANK, Pakistan remains committed to advancing inclusive and equitable access to higher education across the Muslim world,” he noted. He also held a bilateral dialogue with the Secretary General of Science Europe, Dr. Lidia Borrell-Damián, exploring pathways for research collaboration and institutional linkages between Pakistan and

European research bodies.

The Chairman further shared that Pakistan has secured the highest number of Erasmus Mundus scholarships globally for the fourth consecutive year, underscoring the academic potential of Pakistani students and the country’s growing international footprint in higher education.