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China-Pakistan Knowledge Corridor: A New Chapter of People-to-People Bond

BEIJING: The proposal to build the China-Pakistan knowledge corridor, put forward by Pakistan’s Higher Education Commission (HEC), marks a significant upgrade in bilateral cooperation. It elevates long-standing pragmatic ties beyond infrastructure-focused economic collaboration toward people-centered cultural and educational integration. This in-depth academic partnership responds to the booming social demand for cross-border learning and consolidates the foundational bond of the time-honored China-Pakistan all-weather strategic cooperative partnership.

This was stated by Prof Cheng Xizhong, Senior Research Fellow at the Charhar Institute, a non-governmental Chinese think-tank on diplomacy and international studies based in Beijing.

He said the explosive growth of Chinese language education across Pakistan has laid solid groundwork for this visionary initiative. As underscored by HEC Chairman Professor Dr. Niaz Ahmad Akhtar, Chinese is steadily displacing English as the most widely studied foreign language within Pakistan’s education landscape. Top Pakistani universities offer full-shift Chinese courses, yet local teaching resources remain insufficient to meet soaring demand, especially in remote and underdeveloped regions. This sweeping trend stems from the profound bilateral friendship and Pakistan’s sincere desire to deepen alignment with China’s development trajectory, reflecting its widespread recognition of China’s developmental achievements.

The cooperation between Beijing Language and Culture University (BLCU) and Pakistani educational institutions provides robust, systematic support for the development of the knowledge corridor. With six decades of experience cultivating global talents, BLCU has sustained long-standing, close ties with Pakistan. The Islamabad Confucius Institute, jointly established by the two parties in 2005 as the first of its kind in the Islamic world, has consistently been recognized as a global model and provided professional Chinese language training for China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects. The five-point cooperation agenda proposed by BLCU covers youth exchange programs, discipline-specific talent training, Chinese-Urdu literary translation, localized Chinese teaching development, and the establishment of a national language resource center, transforming general cultural engagement into targeted, actionable cooperation, he added.

Fundamentally, the knowledge corridor serves as a vital complement to CPEC’s economic achievements. While CPEC advances tangible economic prosperity and infrastructure development, educational and linguistic exchanges bridge cultural divides and cultivate high-caliber bilingual professionals to underpin future bilateral cooperation.

Prof Cheng said the mechanisms such as joint and double-degree programs further enhance the quality and sustainability of academic collaboration. As the insightful adage goes, “When language connects, hearts draw near; when scholarship thrives, friendship endures.” Rooted in linguistic and academic connectivity, this initiative will deepen mutual understanding, consolidate public support for bilateral friendship, and accelerate the building of an even closer China-Pakistan community with a shared future.

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Health minister orders probe into Sindh MDCAT complaints

ISLAMABAD:Federal Minister for Health Syed Mustafa Kamal has taken notice of alleged irregularities in the Medical and Dental College Admission Test (MDCAT) held in Sindh and ordered a comprehensive inquiry into the complaints.

According to official sources, the minister directed a five-member committee, including the President of the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC), to conduct a transparent investigation and submit its report within 15 days.

The committee has been tasked with examining the complaints and reviewing the circumstances surrounding the alleged irregularities during the examination, sources said.

The minister directed the committee to complete the inquiry within the stipulated timeframe and present its findings for further action in accordance with the applicable rules.

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CDA chairman directs faster work on Expressway East project

ISLAMABAD: Capital Development Authority (CDA) Chairman Sohail Ashraf has directed officials to accelerate work on the Islamabad Expressway Service Road East project while ensuring strict compliance with approved designs and construction standards.

During an inspection of the project on Saturday, the chairman reviewed progress and was briefed on ongoing works and the next phase of development.

He directed the project director and relevant departments to maintain continuous field monitoring and quality control and ensure effective traffic management to minimise inconvenience to commuters.

The chairman described the Expressway East project as an important infrastructure scheme for improving connectivity, traffic flow and road capacity in the capital. He also stressed that construction quality should not be compromised in efforts to meet the project timeline.

During the visit, he was also briefed on an ongoing enforcement operation against unauthorised and illegal construction along the Islamabad Expressway.

According to the CDA, 377 buildings have been identified for action, including 281 commercial structures. So far, 58 buildings have been sealed, while 124 buildings between Sohan and Khanna bridges have been marked for demolition.

The authority said Rs234.685 million had been recovered through land-use conversion, unauthorised construction and de-sealing charges. Around Rs3 billion remained recoverable under applicable regulations in connection with land-use conversion and violations relating to unauthorised construction, setbacks, floor area ratio and covered area.

The chairman directed the relevant departments to ensure strict enforcement of building-control and land-use regulations, particularly mandatory fire-safety requirements.

The enforcement operation is being conducted by the CDA’s Building Control Section and Enforcement Directorate in coordination with the district administration and Islamabad police.

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GB ministers call on Governor Kundi

PESHAWAR: Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Faisal Karim Kundi on Saturday held a meeting with a delegation of Gilgit-Baltistan ministers at the Governor’s House here and discussed the country’s political situation and other matters of mutual interest.

The delegation comprised Gilgit-Baltistan Minister for Local Government and Rural Development Zulfiqar Ali Murad, Minister for Health Iqbal Hassan and Minister for Education Aman Ali Ameer.

During the meeting, the two sides exchanged views on the prevailing political situation in the country and various issues of mutual interest. They also discussed the recent elections in Gilgit-Baltistan and the Pakistan Peoples Party’s success in the polls.

The visiting ministers were taken on a tour of the Governor’s House. Governor Kundi presented them with traditional shawls and caps.