The Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC) has launched a year-long, tuition-free Chinese language programme aimed at strengthening professional collaboration with Chinese companies operating in Pakistan. The initiative, developed in partnership with Shanghai Electric, will begin on December 1 and be conducted entirely online, according to Gwadar Pro. PEC said the programme is designed to equip Pakistani engineers with practical communication skills needed to work on joint Pakistan-China projects, which have expanded in recent years under broader economic and infrastructure cooperation.

The training is open to Pakistani nationals who hold valid PEC registration and have graduated between 2018 and 2025 in any engineering discipline. Preference will be given to applicants from underprivileged backgrounds, and the council has encouraged women engineers to apply. Participants must submit a motivation letter, maintain at least 80 percent attendance and complete daily assignments. The course requires about one hour per day, five days a week, and a stable internet connection, according to PEC.

Shortlisted candidates will be invited for an online interview. The application deadline is November 20. The language programme follows an agreement signed in September in China, where PEC formalized a major capacity-building partnership with three leading Chinese companies under the CPEC. Under that agreement, 100 Pakistani engineers will receive hands-on technical training at the Thar Coal Block-1 project over five years. A scholarship fund of Rs. 350 million was established to support 175 deserving students pursuing higher studies, while exchange schemes will allow young engineers to receive specialised training in China’s energy sector.

The pact also included the launch of online Chinese-language instruction to improve communication between Pakistani and Chinese engineering teams. PEC termed the agreement a milestone for practical training and international exposure, saying it would open new career pathways for Pakistani engineers and support Pakistan’s energy and industrial needs in the long term. The collaboration involves Thar Coal Block-1 Power Generation Company, Sino Sindh Resources and Shanghai Electric Engineering Consulting Company, and was signed during the prime minister’s visit to China at a B2B conference.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP) — Pak-China