Islamabad (Khyber Mail): The Institute of Regional Studies (IRS) recently hosted a consultative dialogue on “Advancing Cooperation in the Transfer of Knowledge and Technology under the Innovation Corridor of CPEC 2.0.” The event gathered prominent experts, scientists, high-ranking Chinese officials, and academics to discuss opportunities for enhancing technological collaboration, joint research initiatives, and capacity building under the CPEC framework.
In his opening remarks, Ambassador Jauhar Saleem, President of IRS, reflected on the accomplishments of Phase 1 of CPEC. He emphasized Pakistan’s potential as a connector of South, Central, East, and West Asia, highlighting that Phase 2.0 shifts the focus from physical construction to creating an intellectual infrastructure. Saleem noted that advancing toward a knowledge-based society is only possible for Pakistan by leapfrogging traditional industrialization stages. He also stressed the importance of capitalizing on Pakistan’s young population by imparting skills and focusing on emerging technologies under CPEC.
Minister Counsellor Yang Guangyuan emphasized the importance of B2B cooperation and digital innovation in strengthening Pakistan-China economic ties. Drawing on two decades of experience, he highlighted improvements in business confidence and acknowledged challenges such as underutilized industrial capacity and electricity overcapacity in Pakistan. While state-owned enterprises have led infrastructure development so far, he advocated for greater involvement of private Chinese companies to drive market-responsive growth. He proposed targeted partnerships and specialized training programs to integrate Pakistani industries into global supply chains. Stressing the need for strategic investments in digital and applied technologies, he suggested expanding Pakistan’s 5Es policy by adding 5 more Es: efficiency, effectiveness, electricity, endurance of policies, and e-commerce to enhance economic sustainability and competitiveness.
Dr. Asif Ali, Chairperson of the National Seed Development and Regulatory Authority (NSDRA), emphasized the need for greater collaboration in the agricultural sector, given Pakistan’s status as an agrarian country. He noted that the Special Economic Zones (SEZs) being developed are increasingly linked to universities, calling for enhanced knowledge transfer.
Prof. Dr. Mumtaz Shah, Project Director of the China-Pakistan Joint Research Center on Earth Sciences, emphasized the urgent need for adopting modern mining techniques to unlock the immense untapped potential of Pakistan’s mineral sector, which remains underdeveloped and ripe for exploration.
Hamza Saeed Orakzai from the Special Technology Zones Authority (STZA) noted that STZA has launched 18 technology zones, employing 25,000 skilled professionals. He announced a forthcoming $300 million technology transfer investment from China, reinforcing Pakistan’s potential as a tech hub.
Khalid Taimur Akram, Executive Director of the Pakistan Research Center for a Community with Shared Future, emphasized that the service industry must address critical gaps between infrastructure development and technology transfer. He urged Pakistanis to invest more in language learning and advocated fostering open-source private ventures to accelerate modernization efforts and better align with the pace of Chinese innovation.
Dr. Qamar ul Islam, Project Director of Pakistan’s First Lunar Mission “ICUBE-Qamar” Institute of Space Technology, provided a compelling overview of Pakistan’s burgeoning space sector and its transformative potential. He noted that the global space economy is projected to reach $1.8 trillion by 2035 and urged Pakistan to intensify efforts in the space sector by engaging more with Chinese space technology.
Dr. Mirza Habib Ali, Director Researcher at the Pakistan Science Foundation, stated that the foundation’s strongest partnership is with China. Over the past decade, 57 joint projects have been initiated, each involving one partner from Pakistan and one from China.
Tahir Ahmed Dhindsa, Head of SDTV at the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) and a journalist, emphasized that in today’s world, success depends on controlling the narrative. While the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is now an inevitable reality, its success will be shaped by the narrative built around it.