Pakistan and China have agreed to jointly implement a series of training programs targeting key sectors including construction engineering, artificial intelligence, agriculture, and hospitality management. These initiatives will be launched under the second phase of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), aimed at deepening collaboration in the domain of technical and vocational education and training (TVET). The new wave of cooperation follows the recent visit of Gulmina Bilal Ahmad, Chairperson of the National Vocational and Technical Training Commission (NAVTTC), to China from July 6 to 12, during which several bilateral meetings and working sessions took place.
During a briefing held at NAVTTC Headquarters, Ahmad stated that the visit was focused on aligning educational goals with industrial priorities under CPEC, while reinforcing institutional linkages between both countries. She added that the training programs are being developed with strategic guidance from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Chairman of the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan, and Federal Minister for Education and Professional Training Dr. Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui. These efforts are seen as key drivers for enhancing workforce readiness in sectors of mutual economic interest.
The collaboration is being facilitated through the China-Pakistan TVET-Industrial Centre of Excellence (CPTICE), which serves as the bilateral coordination hub for TVET-related activities. The visit also featured detailed discussions with officials at the Embassy of Pakistan in Beijing, where the delegation reviewed progress on the TVET section of the broader China-Pakistan Joint Statement. Officials examined areas where implementation could be accelerated and exchanged insights on regulatory alignment between educational bodies in both countries.
While in China, the delegation visited TANG International Education Group, which serves as the Chinese Secretariat of CPTICE. During a joint working session with Li Jinsong, the Chinese Chairperson of CPTICE, both sides discussed operational strategies for launching the co-developed training modules. The programs will be delivered in collaboration with local industry and academic institutions to ensure relevance and practical application.
In parallel with this initiative, Pakistan is also working on the mutual recognition of vocational qualifications with Saudi Arabia and Oman. The aim is to streamline the validation of Pakistani skill certifications abroad, helping the country’s workforce access more international employment opportunities. These parallel efforts mark a shift toward internationalizing Pakistan’s vocational training standards while keeping them responsive to domestic industrial needs.
As Pakistan enters the implementation stage of the second phase of CPEC, the joint training programs with China are expected to enhance skills development across targeted sectors, increase youth participation in high-growth industries, and support long-term industrial collaboration. By anchoring this effort in structured bilateral mechanisms like CPTICE and aligning with the country’s youth development policies, the initiative reflects a broader commitment to equipping Pakistan’s workforce for emerging economic demands.
