Muslim world failed to pay proper attention to education: President Mamnoon

ASTANA: Pakistan President Mamnoon Hussain said on Sunday that the Muslim world is lagging behind and failed over the years to pay adequate attention to education.

He was addressing the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation's conference on science and technology in Astana, Kazakhstan. He said that from the determination expressed by the attendants of the conference it was apparent it would be a success.

It is pertinent that the Muslim world gains independence in socio-economic issues, said Hussain,adding that the focus should be on science and technology studies. 

He said under the new projects, work in space sciences, astrology and marine life sciences would be the focus.

President Mamnoon, while thanking the organisation and Islamic development bank for cooperation, said that Pakistan will take all the necessary measures on its part.

According to a Foreign Office statement, President Mamnoon also held a meeting with his Turkish counterpart Tayyap Erdogan along the sidelines of the conference.

The two leaders expressed satisfaction over longstanding Pak-Turkey relations.  

The Turkish president said that the Muslim world needs to work together for the plight of Myanmar Muslims.

President Mamnoon thanked the Turkish president for support on Kashmir issue.

The OIC First Science and Technology Summit is a one-day conference, having a view to ‘identifying priorities, goals and targets for the advancement and promotion of science, technology and innovation in the OIC Member States’, according to its official website.

The summit which will be the first-ever heads of state and government meeting to develop prospects regarding Science and Technology will set priorities for the members countries to achieve goals over the next decade.