Country needs 10,000 PhDs in 10 years: Ahsan Iqbal

ISLAMABAD: Minister for Planning, Development and Reforms Ahsan Iqbal Monday said Pakistan needed 10,000 PHDs at educational institutions in next decade and sought USA’s help in this regard.
He stated this while talking to delegates from United States Institute of Peace (USIP) headed by former Assistant to USA President on National Security Affairs Stephen Hadley and another one from CSIS headed by Daniel F. Runde.
The minister said that USA can help Pakistan in the area of education and suggested that US-Pakistan Knowledge Corridor can help country learn from USA experiences and achievements in the fields of education, science and technology. He maintained 10,000 PHDs would play key role to turn vision-2025 into a successful venture.
He was of the view USA can make healthy contribution to Pakistan by investing in the education and health sectors of the country.Talking about Pakistan-USA ties, Ahsan said that Pakistan attaches great importance to USA as both had more than six decades-long bilateral relationship. He clarified that Pakistan’s ties with China are not at the cost of its relations with USA or any other country. Pakistan values its relations with all counties based on mutual respect and cooperation.
Ahsan briefed the visiting delegates about significance of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and maintained it should not be construed as mere bilateral trade pact. It carries the hallmark of regional connectivity that would help the entire region to benefit from it. Minister made it clear that CPEC offered equal opportunities to all regional players including India to gain access to China and other countries.
He said that CPEC will create inter-dependencies among various states in the region which is a key for sustainable geo-economic partnership. He said CPEC is the convergence of the visions of both China and Pakistan. He said that Pakistan is poised to benefit greatly from CPEC and said that government wanted to make the country manufacturing hub through this project rather than turning it into a transit country.
He said that security and stability measures alone cannot stabilize the region, we also need investment. Pakistan is now emerging as the corridor to china Afghanistan and all the Central Asian states.Stephen Hadley and Danile F. Runde commended Vision-2025 and discussed the issues of mutual interest.