As Pakistan strives to bolster high-tech human capital development—a cornerstone of its 13th Five-Year Economic Plan (2024–2029)—Chinese-supported skill-building programs are emerging as pivotal drivers in empowering the nation’s youth. Chinese enterprises involved in both China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and non-CPEC projects are intensifying efforts to cultivate a skilled labor force through technical institutes and vocational training initiatives nationwide.
A flagship example is the Huaneng Pakistan Vocational and Technical College, established by the CPEC-linked Sahiwal Coal-Fired Power Plant in eastern Punjab. With a 26-million-yuan ($3.6 million) investment, the institution has equipped over 6,000 young Pakistanis with job-ready expertise through university partnerships, hands-on workshops, and advanced technical curricula. At the Sahiwal plant, more than 200 of the 800 Pakistani employees—including 26 now in managerial or production roles—received modern technical training in China.
Meanwhile, the Pak-China Technical & Vocational Institute (PCTVI) in Gwadar, funded through Chinese grants under CPEC, continues to offer free technical education. Recently enrolling 93 students across 10 specialized diploma programs, the institute provides courses tailored to regional industrial demands, such as Maritime & Port Management, Artificial Intelligence, E-Commerce, and Construction Engineering.
“Our goal is to arm locals with skills that align with Gwadar’s economic transformation, particularly through projects like the Gwadar Port Free Zone,” stated PCTVI Executive Director Prof. Dr. Manzoor Syed. This urgency is underscored by Pakistan’s Human Capital Index (HCI) score of 0.41—below the South Asian average—as highlighted in a May 2023 World Bank report.
To address these gaps, the China-Pakistan Digital Education Alliance, launched in 2023 by ITMC Technology Co Ltd and UNI International alongside 160+ vocational partners, seeks to modernize Pakistan’s technical education framework. Over 15 Sino-Pakistani Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) have since been signed, including Huawei Technologies’ pledge to train 60,000 Pakistanis in advanced technologies and 240,000 in foundational IT skills by year-end.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reaffirmed commitments during a meeting with Huawei CEO Ethen Sun, emphasizing the program’s role in national development. Concurrently, Gansu Province’s “Bailie Workshop” initiative selected five vocational colleges—including the Gansu Vocational College of Communications’ Pakistani-focused project—to further bilateral collaboration.
At Balochistan’s Saindak Copper-Gold Mine, operated by China Metallurgical Group Corp (MCC), over 1,500 Pakistani employees have undergone extensive training. Chinese engineers have conducted 10,000+ sessions totaling 100,000 man-hours, enabling thousands to advance into skilled roles, with many leveraging their expertise to spur growth in Pakistan’s broader economy.
“These partnerships are not just about projects—they’re about building futures,” remarked an MCC representative, underscoring the long-term vision of Sino-Pakistani vocational cooperation.
