ISLAMABAD: China is eager to open technical training centres in Pakistan and train local employees for Chinese companies that are expanding their businesses in Pakistan as part of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project.

“China International Intellectech Corporation (CIIC) wishes to open its centres in Pakistan and train its youth to become productive members of the population,” CIIC Technology Group Chairman Wang Dang said here on Monday in a meeting with Secretary Education Mohyuddin Ahmad Wani. He said that the primary purpose is to train local employees for other Chinese companies that are expanding their businesses in Pakistan as part of the CPEC project.

He said that Pakistan has huge potential and through proper management of resources all of the issues can be addressed. He praised the efforts of the Ministry for Education in championing the education for all cause.

Both the parties agreed to schedule a meeting between the education ministers of the two countries as part of the process in executing the development of technical training centres in Pakistan led by CIIC Group.

Secretary Education Mr Wani appreciated the development and said that Pakistan and China need to further expand and strengthen their collaboration in the field of education as it will benefit both the countries.

A high-powered Chinese delegation including General Manager CIIC International Education Technology also accompanied Chairman Dang. Joint Secretary Education Sohail Akhtar and Executive Director NAVTTC Mohammad Aamir Jan also attended the meeting.

Secretary Education Mr Mohyuddin Ahmad Wani welcomed the Chinese delegation. Mr Wang Dang is a friend of Pakistan who has always worked towards helping Pakistan in fighting its challenges, he said.

Mr Wani said that Pakistan faces a myriad of challenges in the field of education in the wake of climate change. Pakistan has huge challenges but Education Ministry has taken up this issue with utmost emergency, he said.

“We have mobilised all of our resources to address this issue. The Government of Pakistan has also declared an educational emergency. Currently, the Ministry of Education is addressing the issues of access to schools, limited infrastructure, quality of teachers training and nutritional problems of children in collaboration with other ministries,” Mr Wani told the delegation.

He further said Pakistan had adopted latest techniques and approach to tackle all of the challenges of the education sector. He said that Pakistan is focusing on effective disaster management to protect the educational infrastructure of the country.

Climate change, he said, has presented unique challenges but the Ministry of Education has started targeted interventions to ensure positive outcomes. He said that a special pink bus programme was launched in GB and Islamabad to ensure that female students do not have to face logistical issues of access to schools.

He also said that a schools meals programme had also been launched which will ensure that the stunting issue of children is also addressed.

Published in Dawn, April 8th, 2025