City University of Science and Information Technology Peshawar and the Khyber Union of Journalists have reached an agreement in principle to establish a formal partnership covering joint training programmes, workshops, and professional development initiatives for media professionals, with a focus on equipping journalists with the digital and artificial intelligence skills demanded by a rapidly evolving media landscape. The agreement followed a visit by a Khyber Union of Journalists delegation led by its President Kashif-ud-Din Syed and senior journalist Irfan Khan to City University, where they met with Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Safeer Awan and Director ORIC/PR Dr Haseeb-ur-Rehman.
Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Safeer Awan stated that artificial intelligence, digital media, and modern communication technologies are transforming journalism at a pace that makes professional upskilling an urgent necessity rather than an optional enhancement, and affirmed that City University was committed to playing a significant role in equipping media professionals with the capabilities they need. He also announced that the university would allocate a special quota for journalists in select short courses and professional training programmes, creating a dedicated pathway for working media professionals to access the institution’s training resources.
The proposed joint initiatives under the partnership will cover artificial intelligence for journalists, digital journalism practices, social media management, fact-checking methodologies, and modern media technologies, addressing both the editorial and technical dimensions of contemporary journalism that practitioners in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa need to navigate competently. Kashif-ud-Din Syed welcomed the initiative and commended the efforts of both Vice-Chancellor Safeer Awan and Dr Haseeb-ur-Rehman in moving toward closer institutional ties with the journalistic community.
Dr Haseeb-ur-Rehman described the collaboration as part of City University’s broader policy of promoting meaningful partnerships with professional organisations built on knowledge exchange, innovation, and capacity building. Both parties agreed to develop a formal long-term cooperation framework to give the partnership an institutional structure capable of sustaining the training programmes beyond an initial launch phase and ensuring continuity of professional development opportunities for journalists across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
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