The Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training (FE&PT) of Pakistan and China’s Tang International Education Group formalized a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to modernize 20 vocational institutes in Karachi. This collaboration targets infrastructure improvements, the installation of IT and smart laboratories, and the establishment of nationwide Centers of Excellence.
Shafiq Hussain Khokhar, Director General of Administration and Finance at the National Vocational and Technical Training Commission (NAVTTC), and Song Jianying, Chairman and CEO of Tang International’s Pakistan Subsidiary, executed the agreement. The ceremony was witnessed by Dr. Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, Federal Minister for FE&PT, and Jiang Zaidong, China’s Ambassador to Pakistan.
Addressing the gathering, Dr. Siddiqui emphasized Pakistan’s pivotal juncture: “With a youth population constituting nearly 65% of our total—approximately 150 to 180 million—we face both a profound challenge and a unique opportunity. Properly trained, our youth can uplift our nation and emerge as a global skilled workforce.” He further highlighted the strategic vision: “The China-Pakistan friendship exemplifies regional stability and prosperity. Achieving educational and developmental goals is essential to fortifying this bond. We prioritize extensive training initiatives nationwide, particularly in urban slum areas.”
Ambassador Jiang Zaidong underscored China’s commitment: “The core principle of our human resources cooperation is transforming Pakistan’s demographic dividend into a skilled workforce advantage. Pakistan possesses a remarkable foundation, with 240–250 million citizens, 64% of whom are under 30 years old.” He elaborated on China’s vocational model: “China actively promotes employment through diverse channels, achieving a 50% satisfactory employment rate for undergraduates upon graduation. The Ministry of Education and Ministry of Human Resources employ multifaceted strategies to elevate this figure. We are eager to share best practices with Pakistan to foster youth development via bilateral cooperation.”
Preceding the MoU signing, Ambassador Jiang and Minister Siddiqui visited the Job Fair 2025 at Islamabad’s Pak-China Friendship Centre, where over 20 Chinese enterprises presented more than 500 employment opportunities.