D-8 Spotlights Research Network in Talks with Pakistani Education Leaders

The Developing-8 Organization for Economic Cooperation (D-8) has underscored the growing importance of cross-border academic collaboration as its flagship research platform took center stage during high-level discussions with a visiting delegation of Pakistani educators.

At the D-8 Secretariat in Istanbul, Secretary-General Sohail Mahmood met with senior representatives from Pakistan’s higher education and scientific community. The meeting offered an encouraging overview of the organization’s growth, its expanding sectoral agenda, and Pakistan's clear aim to enhance its role in higher education, research, and innovation.

The D-8 Network of Pioneers for Research and Innovation (NPRI), a flagship initiative of strategic importance, connects leading universities across member states. Described as a platform of “strategic significance,” the network currently brings together 28 prominent institutions to foster collaboration in science, technology, and innovation. Mahmood encouraged Pakistani universities to deepen their engagement with NPRI through national channels, highlighting the potential to strengthen institutional partnerships.

The Pakistani delegation, including Dr. Abdul Basit, Sabur Sethi, and Muhammad Murtaza Noor, represented a vital segment of the country’s academic leadership. Participants appreciated D-8’s efforts to foster collaborative frameworks and expressed genuine interest in expanding Pakistan’s influential role in the NPRI initiative.

Mahmood also highlighted Pakistan’s strategic contribution to D-8’s institutional landscape, noting that key affiliated bodies, including the NPRI Secretariat, hosted at COMSATS University Islamabad, and the Research Center for Agriculture and Food Security at the University of Agriculture Faisalabad, are already based in the country.

The visit coincided with the delegation’s participation in the Eurasia Higher Education Summit 2026, a prominent international forum uniting universities from across regions. This participation highlighted Pakistan’s commitment to expanding its presence in global academic networks and fostering international collaboration.