COMSTECH and the Government of Kazakhstan jointly organized an international workshop on Biosafety and Biosecurity, titled “Bridging the Gap: Enhancing Biosafety and Biosecurity Regimes for a Secure Future”.
COMSTECH is the OIC Standing Committee for Scientific and Technological Cooperation and is hosted by Pakistan.
The workshop that kicked off at the COMSTECH Secretariat on December 3 brought together experts from Egypt, Georgia, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Uganda, and Uzbekistan.
The workshop delves into critical discussions on challenges to human security arising from advancements in biological sciences and global events such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Experts will assess existing policy instruments like the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) and the BTWC, exploring their limitations and obstacles to full implementation.
A pivotal point of discussion will be the proposal made by the President of Kazakhstan at the United Nations in 2020, calling for the establishment of an International Agency for Biological Safety (IABS). Participants will explore practical means for its implementation under existing agreements.
The inaugural session featured addresses by key figures, including Coordinator General of COMSTECH Prof. Dr. Iqbal Choudhary, Ambassador of Kazakhstan Yerzhan Kistafin, OIC General Secretariat representative Arman Tynybek, Chair of Workshop Technical Committee Prof. Dr. Zabta Khan Shinwari, and Prof. Dr. S. Khurshid Hasanain, who is the focal person of the workshop.
Speakers emphasized the urgency of addressing emerging threats to biosecurity and biosafety. They highlighted the Workshop’s background and the ongoing cooperation between COMSTECH and Kazakhstan in various scientific and technological fields.
Over the next few days, experts from participating countries will share their insights during three technical sessions. These sessions will focus on practical steps to enhance biosafety and biosecurity, examining existing treaties and conventions in the domain. The workshop is set to conclude on December 4, with the Outcome Document shared with the OIC for consideration and follow-up actions.