ISLAMABAD: In a significant stride toward enhancing bilateral cooperation in technical education and vocational training, Pakistan and China have agreed to jointly launch specialized training programs in key emerging fields, including construction engineering, artificial intelligence, agriculture, and hospitality management—as part of the second phase of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
This milestone was achieved during a high-level official visit to China by Gulmina Bilal Ahmad, Chairperson of the National Vocational and Technical Training Commission (NAVTTC) and Pakistan-side Chairperson of the China-Pakistan TVET-Industrial Cooperation Centre of Excellence (CPTICE), held from 6th to 12th July 2025. The visit was conducted under the direct guidance of Prime Minister Mian Shehbaz Sharif, Chairman Prime Minister’s Youth Programme Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan, and Federal Education Minister Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui.
The visit aimed to strengthen institutional cooperation in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) under the CPTICE framework—the only official bilateral platform linking industry with education under CPEC. The overarching goal is to equip Pakistani youth with globally competitive technical skills aligned with international labor market demands, while simultaneously developing a high-quality skilled workforce to meet the industrial needs of CPEC’s second phase.
During the visit, the Pakistani delegation held strategic consultations at the Embassy of Pakistan in Beijing on the implementation of TVET-related provisions within the China-Pakistan Joint Statement. Further engagements took place with key Chinese partners, including a high-level meeting with Chairman Bu Yulong of China International Intellectual Group (CIIC). Agreements were reached on vocational training cooperation, joint curriculum design, and deepened industry-academia linkages.
The delegation also visited TANG International Education Group—the Chinese Secretariat of CPTICE—where a joint working meeting was co-chaired with Mr. Li Jinsong, the Chinese Chairperson of CPTICE.
The parties agreed to initiate collaborative training programs in priority sectors and to advance mutual recognition of skills certifications with Saudi Arabia and Oman, thereby opening new regional employment avenues for Pakistani professionals. –Agencies
