A Chinese delegation has visited the Technical Education and Vocational Training Authority Secretariat in Lahore to discuss the establishment of the Ban-Mo Academy, a Pakistan-China collaborative project aimed at training women in cross-border e-commerce, digital skills, and vocational education at the Government College of Technology for Women on Lytton Road.
The academy will operate under a five-party partnership involving Shandong College of Electronic Technology, Lancmall, Punjab TEVTA, the Government College of Technology for Women Lahore, and ITMC Technology Company Limited. The meeting was chaired by TEVTA Chairman Muhammad Sajid Khokhar, who said the project could create opportunities for broader cooperation in technical and vocational training between Pakistan and China. According to UNI International Director Yasser Shakoor, the academy will offer short courses focused on digital and e-commerce skills specifically aligned with the requirements of Chinese companies operating in Pakistan, making the training market-oriented from the outset rather than purely academic.
The collaboration is designed to go beyond standard classroom instruction, encompassing teacher training, modern equipment procurement, updated curricula, and potential internship opportunities for participating students. Students who complete the programme may also gain access to employment pathways within Chinese enterprises operating across Pakistan, creating a direct pipeline between the training institution and industry partners from the outset. The project centre is expected to be handed over to TEVTA later in 2026, with classes planned to begin during the spring 2027 academic session.
Following the meeting, the Chinese delegation visited the Luban Workshop, Digital Silk Road Academy, and Meraki Hospitality Department at GTTI Gulberg in Lahore, demonstrating engagement with existing Pakistan-China skills collaboration infrastructure already in operation before the Ban-Mo Academy launches. The initiative represents another strand of Pakistan-China cooperation within the broader framework of digital skills and technology transfer, extending the CPEC partnership beyond infrastructure and energy into workforce development, with a specific focus on women’s economic participation through digital trade and e-commerce.
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