Anwar Hails OIC-COMSTECH's Vision As Malaysia Eyes Hosting Science & Technology Summit
ISLAMABAD, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 28th Sep, 2026) As artificial intelligence, climate change and digital disruption reshape the global order, Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on Monday called on the Muslim world to meet the future with intellectual courage. He urged that technological progress stay firmly rooted in knowledge, ethics, and human values.
Inaugurating the International Future Conference 2026 at the International Institute of Islamic Thought and Civilisation (ISTAC), International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM), the Prime Minister praised OIC-COMSTECH's efforts to confront the challenges facing the Muslim world. On the sidelines of the event, he met OIC-COMSTECH Coordinator General Prof. Dr. M. Iqbal Choudhary, and the two discussed the possibility of Malaysia hosting a future Science and Technology Summit.
Prof. Choudhary stated that the meeting covered upcoming projects and prospects for broadening cooperation between Malaysia and OIC-COMSTECH.
In his keynote address, Anwar emphasized the need for the Muslim Ummah to possess the determination to master its intellectual heritage, the courage to question and challenge established assumptions, and the willingness to explore uncharted fields of knowledge. He asserted that the future demands creativity, intellectual freedom, and resolve. Furthermore, he stressed that advancements in artificial intelligence and digital transformation must remain aligned with ethical, cultural, and societal values.
OIC Assistant Secretary-General for Science and Technology, Ambassador Aftab Ahmad Khokhar, stated that OIC member states share a collective responsibility to build a future driven by knowledge, science, technology, and innovation, while ensuring that progress respects human dignity, ethical values, and sustainable development. He noted that science and innovation are no longer merely tools of economic growth but strategic foundations for resilience, technological self-reliance, and long-term prosperity.
He commended OIC-COMSTECH for creating a forward-looking platform that brings together leaders, policymakers, academics, and young people, and recognized Prof. Choudhary's leadership in advancing its future-oriented programs.
Prof. Choudhary described the conference as a pivotal platform for preparing the Muslim world for rapidly changing technological, economic, and social realities. By bringing together expertise from science, education, policy, and industry, he believed new partnerships could be forged and cooperation among OIC member states deepened in areas vital to their development.
The conference, held on September 28–29 under the theme "Shaping the Future Through Knowledge, Innovation, and Civilizational Leadership," is jointly organized by OIC-COMSTECH and IIUM.