When Anas Shakoor left his hometown of Panjgur district in Balochistan, for Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China, in early 2024, he carried with him not just a suitcase but a childhood dream.

As one of ten students from the Gwadar Institute of Technology selected for a nine-month study program at Hebei Jiaotong Vocational and Technical College, Anas embarked on a journey that would prove transformative in ways he could never have imagined.

According to a report carried by China Economic Net (CEN) on Tuesday, the program, which brought future road and bridge construction engineers from Balochistan to China, was an eye-opening experience from the very first day.

China’s vast and sophisticated transportation network, with its prowess in railways, highways, bridges and tunnels, impressed Anas and his fellow students.

“We are truly fortunate to come to China and study engineering technology here,” Anas recalls, his voice still carrying the warmth of that experience.

For a young man from a region where infrastructure development holds the key to economic progress, every lesson felt personal.

Anas chose civil engineering with a clear purpose. “The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor is an opportunity for our local people,” he says with conviction.

“I see myself playing a part in the CPEC framework in the future, contributing meaningfully to its success through the skills and knowledge I have acquired.”

That sense of mission drove him through intensive coursework, site visits and hands-on training.

The students visited real construction sites, including the metro system in Shijiazhuang, where they witnessed how advanced bridge and tunnel construction techniques are applied in urban transit projects.

“I was exposed to many new technologies that I had never encountered before. Everything is run on digital platforms, yet historic traditions are preserved alongside modernity.

We used advanced tools for our research, and during site visits, I had the opportunity to operate machinery that was entirely unfamiliar to me.” Anas says.

Yet what made Anas’s journey truly remarkable was not just the technical knowledge he gained, but the cultural connection he forged along the way.

Before arriving in China, he had spent six months learning Chinese in his hometown, driven by a lifelong fascination with Chinese culture. “Since my childhood, I have loved Chinese history, Chinese culture, and Chinese traditions very, very much,” he shares.

As a child, he often watched Chinese movies and dreamed of seeing the country in reality.

That dream came true in Shijiazhuang, where he combined his studies with his passion for soccer, a sport he took to heart partly because of movies like “Shaolin Soccer”.

When the opportunity arose to participate in the 3rd “My Hebei Story” Chinese speech contest for foreigners, Anas seized it.

Clad in his traditional Balochi dress, he spoke passionately about his journey in China and his profound respect for his people and culture. His heartfelt presentation earned him an award.

Since his return to Pakistan, Anas has continued his academic pursuits without interruption.

He is now in the third semester of his bachelor’s program in library and information science at Karachi University. Reflecting on his time abroad, he acknowledges both the technological gap and the vast potential for growth in his home country.

The tools and techniques he gained in China have already become integral to his research and hands-on work.

Anas Shakoor’s journey continues to unfold. His time in China was not merely an academic chapter but the foundation of a lifelong mission.

He cherishes every moment he spent here and is now working diligently to enhance his skills, with his sights set on securing another opportunity to return for further studies.

“I am always ready to contribute to my hometown’s development and to CPEC,” he affirmed.

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