China Study Centre, COMSATS University Islamabad organized a one-day Seminar on “CPEC Practical Cooperation – Prospects and Challenges” on 6th July 2022 at Junaid Zaidi Library, Video Conference Room CUI at 10:30 am.
The seminar started with the Recitation of the Holy Quran which was followed by the National Anthems of Pakistan and China.
Prof Dr. Muhammad Tabassum Afzal, Rector, COMSATS University Islamabad Welcomed all the guest speakers to the seminar.
The Keynote Speech was delivered by Mr. Li Yong, Commercial Counselor, Embassy of China in Pakistan, and Dr. Tahir Mumtaz Awan In-charge, CUI China Study Centre.
In the Seminar presentation were delivered by Dr. Hassan Daud Butt, CEO, KP- Board of Investment and Trade, Prof. Dr. Zahid Anwar, Pro Vice-Chancellor, Dean Faculty of Social Sciences, & Director China Study Centre, University of Peshawar. Dr. Liaqat Ali Shah, Head of Policy (CPEC), MoPDSI, Prof. Dr. Khair uz Zaman, Vice Chancellor University of Science and Technology, Bannu, Dr. Talat Shabbir, Director China-Pakistan Study Centre, Institute of Strategic Studies, Islamabad (ISSI), Dr. Ejaz Hussain, Associate Professor, Department of Social Sciences, Iqra University, Islamabad, Dr. Inayat Kaleem, Assistant Professor, COMSATS University, Islamabad, Ms. Saadia Saif Niazi, National University of Modern Languages (NUML).
Prof. Dr. Zahid Anwar in his presentation highlighted that the ancient Silk Road strengthened economic integration, and development and galvanized people-to-people contact. BRI is the 21st Century Silk Road based on a win-win model initiated by the People’s Republic of China. CPEC is a flagship corridor of the BRI and is very beneficial for Pakistan. The completion of the first phase of CPEC addressed many issues which Pakistan confronted related to infrastructure, energy, telecommunication, and socio-economic development. One bright side of CPEC is the strengthening of collaboration between high-ranking Universities of Pakistan and China. China Association of Higher Education (CAHE) and the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan (HEC) have played a leading role in this connection. The CPEC Consortium of Universities was established in Islamabad in August 2017. It has boosted cooperation between the Universities of the two countries and adopted some measures that culminated in strengthening collaboration. These and other such efforts under CPEC have initiated a chain reaction in the field of higher education. About 30000 Pakistani students are now studying in China. 80,000 Pakistani citizens got jobs in CPEC projects” he added.
At the end of the Seminar Dr. Tahir Mumtaz Awan, In-charge, China Study Centre of COMSATS University Islamabad, thanked all the participants and guest speakers for their participation in the seminar.
