Shah Faisal Afridi proposes Pakistan- China Technology University

Lahore, March 04, 2015 (PPI-OT): President Pak-China Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry has proposed a Pak- China Technology University to be opened with the collaboration of Chinese universities. He said that aim of the university would be to transform appropriate technology from China that suits to the needs and demands of Pakistan. The Technology University would provide Tailor made Innovative solutions to various sectors of Pakistan.

He added that China is interested to incorporate Chinese curriculum into Pakistan that will include Chinese Language, Chinese work ethics, Innovative planning and development, on the priority basis but for this they need cooperation from Pakistan. He said that earlier in a meeting of Chinese delegation with Professor Dr. Nizamudin, Chairman Higher Education Commission, the prospects of such Collaboration with China were discussed.

Mr. Nizamudin highly appreciated the idea and proposed to provide land for the formation of Pak-China Technology University with Chinese collaboration. Faisal Afridi said that it would be considered a big achievement if Pakistan succeeds to form such Technology University because currently the education sector of Pakistan lacks in Technology and technical expertise whereas the youth of Pakistan is highly motivated, talented and creative, just little guidance and direction could do a lot.

He said that there are various innovative projects, strategies and products made by students in the universities but these innovative ideas go unobserved due to lack of representation and interest at the government level. He lamented that we have unfortunately created a society where innovators are neither rewarded, nor held in high esteem. We don’t have institutions or a financial support structure to help entrepreneurs bring their ideas to fruition. We need radical transformation that brings the search for knowledge, science, technology and innovation to the forefront of government support.

He said that the proposed Pak-China Technology University would include a Collaborative Research and development wing that would be linked with other universities and colleges for the development and achievement of innovative goals by providing training, technical and financial assistance to the students and interested people to execute the ideas. “Research for the sake of publication should be replaced by Research for Application, every such institution should be directed by the industry to produce commercially feasible research” added Afridi.

To initiate all this’ government needs to de-couple the implementation of knowledge-driven innovation-policy from the rest of its bureaucratic skeleton. It needs to form a flexible, innovation-centric, entrepreneur-lead quasi-public autonomous body ‘answerable to the Chief Executive of country only’ to orchestrate, implement and gauge the innovation strategy and to shield start-ups and pilot innovation projects from the bureaucratic, monopolistic and corporatist death traps. Pakistan also needs new, innovative and differentiated marketing strategy to attract FDI, knowledge and expertise, said Afridi.

For more information, contact:
Wardah Ali Gohar
Media Manager
Pakistan China Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCJCCI)
Mega Tower, 309 – 6th Floor,
Main Boulevard, Gulberg II,
Lahore, Punjab – Pakistan
Tel: +92-42-35777460-02, +92-42-37032203, +92-42-35874353
Fax: +92-42-35777524
Cell: +92-324-4925611
Email: info@pcjcci.org
Website: www.pcjcci.org