The second phase of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) focuses on areas where people-to-people interaction is critical. The focus remains on the social sector, particularly in fields such as education, vocational training, poverty alleviation, health and agriculture. Pakistan’s higher education sector is one key area to be upgraded under CPEC. Since the conclusion of the CPEC agreement in 2013, Sino-Pakistan collaboration in higher education has been expanding as Beijing is offering scholarships, vocational training and Chinese language courses to Pakistani youth and providing opportunities for academic and research collaboration. Pakistan-China education cooperation Approximately 32,000 Pakistani students are studying in China, with most of them on scholarships, thanks to China’s commitment to promoting higher education in Pakistan.

According to Higher Education Commission (HEC), so far 193 Pakistani students have been awarded scholarships under the Chinese government’s scholarship programme, including 40 in 2019, 58 in 2020, 59 in 2021, and 36 in 2022. CPEC- Collaborative Research Grant The CPEC-Collaborative Research Grant (CPEC-CRG) is one of the key components of the recently-launched HEC initiative of ‘Academic Collaboration under CPEC Consortium of Universities’. The overall objective of the project is to understand and respond to the historic global geostrategic and geo-economic transition and its impact on the region in general and Pakistan in particular, keeping in view the broad Belt and Road Initiative and its Pakistan-specific component – CPEC. CPEC Consortium of Universities The CPEC Consortium of Business Schools was established in Islamabad in August 2017 under the auspices of HEC and China Association of Higher Education. The main aim was to boost trade and business linkages between the two states, but in November 2017, its scope was expanded to other subjects and the association was renamed ‘CPEC Consortium of Universities’.

The academic collaboration under the CPEC Consortium of Universities included the establishment of China study centres in various universities across Pakistan, launching joint research projects, language training and talent cultivation, cultural activities and joint conferences, workshops and exhibitions. Following is the list of CPEC Consortium of Universities in Pakistan.

S.no  Name of Universities    S.no  Name of Universities

1     Balochistan University of Information Technology, Engineering & Management Sciences (BUITEMS), Quetta 19    Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE), Islamabad

2     COMSATS University of Information Technology, Islamabad     20    University of the Punjab, Lahore

3     Institute of Business Administration (IBA), Karachi   21    University of Engineering & Technology, Lahore

4     Sukkur IBA University, Sukkur 22    Karakoram International University, Gilgit

5     Institute of Management Sciences (IMS), Peshawar      23    Mehran University of Engineering & Technology

6     Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS), Lahore     24    National Defence University (NDU), Islamabad

7     National University of Computer and Emerging Sciences (NU)  25    NED University of Engineering & Technology, Karachi

8     National University of Sciences & Technology (NUST), Islamabad    26    Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad

9     University of Peshawar, Peshawar    27    University of Agriculture, Faisalabad

10    Azad Jammu & Kashmir University, Muzaffarabad   28    Lasbela University of Agriculture, Water & Marine Sciences, Lasbela

11    International Centre for Chemical & Biological Sciences, Karachi  29    University of Karachi, Karachi

12    National University of Medical Sciences (NUMS), Islamabad   30    University of Baluchistan, Quetta

13    Azad Jammu & Kashmir University, Muzaffarabad   31    Fatima Jinnah Women University, Rawalpindi

14    International Centre for Chemical & Biological Sciences, Karachi  32    National University of Technology (NUTECH), Islamabad

15    Sindh Agriculture University, Tandojam    33    Foundation University, Islamabad

16    Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan     34    University of Haripur, Haripur

17    International Islamic University, Islamabad     35    Lahore College for Women University, Lahore

18    University of Sargodha, Sargodha    36    National University of Modern Languages

The CPEC-CRG is anticipated to support promising research partnerships between Pakistan and China, aimed at finding solutions to CPEC-related problems through joint research by the universities of Pakistan and China, drawing upon the research potential of academia on both sides. Keeping in view the scope and foreseeable impact of CPEC, this initiative will go a long way in supporting collaborative research proposals and addressing problems and issues pertaining to Pakistan's socioeconomic development in general and CPEC in particular. Confucius Institutes in Pakistan

These Confucius institutes are anticipated as the foundation of the strong friendship between Pakistan and China that is being passed on to the next generations. Currently, there are five major Confucius institutes operating in Pakistan, including in National University of Modern Languages (NUML), Islamabad, University of Sargodha, University of Punjab, University of Agriculture and University of Karachi. The Confucius institutes are facilitating cultural exchanges for Pakistani students. With the passage of time, these institutes are progressing beyond Chinese language teaching.

Talking to WealthPK, Dr Zhang Wel, head of the Confucius Institute at NUML, said, "Confucius institutes have attained a prominent position among all the platforms for cultural interaction in Pakistan, and are regarded as the finest at imparting knowledge of the Chinese language and culture. Our main objective is to strengthen relations of friendship and cooperation between the two countries.” Zhang further said established on April 4, 2005, the Confucius Institute at NUML had the distinction of being the oldest and first Confucius institute to be set up in the Muslim world. “The number of students is increasing with the passage of time because of Chinese job opportunities.” NUML’s collaboration with China’s Xinjiang Normal University provides a way for further linkages and intellectual exchanges of faculty and students.

The Pakistani universities hosting the Confucius institutes have made their research and logistical support and collaboration with the Chinese institutions a top priority. In Pakistan, the growth in Mandarin language learning has been witnessed in recent years. Many Pakistani schools are already teaching Chinese language. A Chinese language instructor at NUML noted that after the launch of CPEC in 2013, there has been an exceptional rise in the number of students keen to learn Mandarin.  “Prior to CPEC, we had some 200 students learning Chinese. Now we have over 2,000 in our different programmes after the launch of CPEC,” he said. “It is hoped that CPEC will create employment opportunities and youth can seize job opportunities in Pakistan as fluent Mandarin speakers.” Development of vocational training institutes

Under CPEC, China has agreed to help Pakistan establish vocational training institutes to provide technical education to students. These institutes will focus on providing training in skills that are in high demand in the job market, such as plumbing, welding, and electrical work. According to the Pakistan-China Joint Cooperation Committee (JCC), China will provide a loan of $1 billion for the establishment of vocational training institutes in Pakistan.

In the same spirit, the China-Pakistan International Industry-Education Cooperation Alliance will facilitate the introduction of 210 technical and vocational education and training (TVET) disciplines of China to Pakistan, the establishment of 36 TVET excellence centres, the provision of international courses, and opportunities of pursuing further studies and jobs in China. CPEC health corridor

In 2022, China and Pakistan announced three new corridors, including green, digital and health corridors, which will usher in a new era of development in Pakistan. The health corridor sets the direction towards revamping and modernising Pakistan's healthcare infrastructure. The establishment of new hospitals, medical universities, research centres, pharmacies and caregiving organisations will be the focus of this corridor in line with CPEC's vision and objectives. Pak-China Friendship Hospital The Chinese government is financing the Pak-China Friendship Hospital, which is being established on 68 acres of land in Gwadar.

Since the project’s launch on December 26, 2019, work on one out of six medical blocks (each 50-bed) and almost 20% of the residential blocks has been completed. The remaining parts of the hospital include setting up nursing and paramedical institutes, a medical college, a central laboratory, and other allied facilities. Chinese traditional medicine cooperation

China and Pakistan are strengthening their bilateral relations through cooperation in the field of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). The health authorities of Sindh have initiated a programme in which China will assist in training young doctors proficient in TCM. The Sino-Pakistan Cooperation Centre for Traditional Chinese Medicine (SPCCTCM) in central China's Hunan province will train the first batch of 10 young doctors in TCM theory and clinical practice. Upon completion of their training, they will return to their hometowns in Pakistan to carry out TCM diagnosis and treatment.

‘Belt and Road’ Medical Device Innovation and Application Alliance As a major development, recently a symposium on medical device innovation and application was held in Shanghai, where three Chinese and Pakistani groups inked an agreement on medical cooperation. The agreement was signed by the Shanghai High-End Medical Equipment Innovation Centre, China-Pakistan Medical Association (CPMA), and the Journal of Economic Affairs Pakistan. The agreement aims to encourage Chinese and Pakistani cooperation on cutting-edge medical items and medical equipment.

According to the MoU, the trio will host the China-Pakistan International Medical Exhibition soon, which will feature exhibitions of medical supplies, equipment and services. Additionally, efforts will be made to work together in medical staff training, particularly in the use of cutting-edge medical technology. Assistance in Covid-19/ hepatitis-A vaccination Apart from millions of Covid-19 vaccines over the last two years, Pakistan also received more than 100,000 doses of China’s hepatitis-a vaccination for adults and children in 2022.

The Sinovac biopharmaceutical business in China, which produces the doses, donated them in November 2022. Earlier in 2022, a clinical trial of a Chinese herbal treatment for coronavirus succeeded in Pakistan. The drug produced by Juxiechang (Beijing) Pharmaceutical Co Ltd, is already being administered to Covid-19 patients in China. Assistance in coping with flood aftermath Chinese medical teams also helped Pakistani flood victims during their hour of need. The teams comprising experts on gastroenterology, infectious diseases, respiratory medicine, dermatology, general surgery, nursing, monitoring, analysis, and prevention of infectious diseases, drinking water sanitation, mosquito vector monitoring and transmission, environmental elimination and laboratory testing, visited Islamabad, Karachi and the badly-hit Khairpur district in Sindh.

Credit: INP-WealthPk