Pakistan seeks US help in human resource development

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has sought the assistance of the U.S. for human resource development in the country. 

“We are keen to benefit from the strength of the top U.S. universities to train our strategic human resource for transforming Pakistan into a knowledge economy,” said Ahsan Iqbal, minister for planning, development and reform, at a meeting with the U.S. Assistant Secretary Education and Cultural Affairs Evan Ryan.

Minister Iqbal said Pakistan-USA knowledge corridor can build a strong bridge between the two countries. 

He highlighted the government’s efforts to promote primary and higher education, particularly girl education in the country. “The U.S. can partner (with us) to make these efforts a success,” he said. 

The knowledge corridor has been recognised as an important initiative in a joint statement from both the countries during the Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s visit to the U.S. last year.

Iqbal said there are challenges in setting up the knowledge corridor. He said Pakistan needs at least 10,000 doctors of philosophies (PhDs) in the next 10 years to meet the growing needs of expanding faculty in higher education sector. “The knowledge corridor will meet the increasing demand of PhDs in Pakistan,” he added.

Minister proposed the development of a group of academicians in USA who should make Pakistan the subject of their research. He also proposed a joint science foundation to finance scholars from both the sides and the start of U.S.-Pakistan strategic dialogue. 

“Education, science and technology group is the most important group in strategic dialogue to take the decades-long bilateral relations beyond the security prism by cooperating in social sectors,” he said. “Social and economic development roadmap of Pakistan Vision-2025 focuses greatly on human resource development by heavily investing in education sector.”

The planning minister said Pakistan is transforming in every sphere of life. “Our initiative ‘Brand Pakistan’ is meant to recognise the changing Pakistan by engaging Pakistani Diaspora,” he said.

“Pakistani students in foreign universities can play a critical role in highlighting the true image of Pakistan.” 

Secretary Ryan commended the corridor idea. “It is an ambitious idea and will be effective in revolutionising Pakistan higher education by establishing links with the U.S. universities,” she told the minister. “I am really impressed the way you are championing knowledge and education causes in the country.” 

Ryan agreed that stronger ties between Pakistan and the U.S. should be built through Pakistani Diaspora.