ISLAMABAD   -  As Pakistan is struggling to im­prove high-tech human capital development, one of key objec­tive of Pakistan’s 13th economic plan 2024-2029, China-aided skilled-based human resource programmes are a silver lining equipping Pakistani youth with different expertises.

Most of the Chinese companies working on CPEC and Non-CPEC projects have gone full steam ahead by producing skilful work­force through their technical and vocational institutes as well human capacity building initia­tives in the length and breadth of Pakistan. With an investment of 26 million yuan ($3.6 mil­lion), the Huaneng Pakistan Vo­cational and Technical College established by Sahiwal coal-fired power plant, a flagship project of CPEC in eastern Sahiwal district of Pakistan, has empowered over 6,000 local youth by enhancing their employment skills through collaborative training with lo­cal universities, practical work­shops, significantly contributing to workforce development, Gwa­dar Pro reported on Wednesday.

Among the nearly 800 Paki­stani employees working at the power station, there are more than 200 engineers who received modern technical trainings in China. Currently, 26 of them have moved to the vital positions of management, production, and others. The Pak-China Technical & Vocational Institute (PCTVI) in Gwadar built with Chinese grant under CPEC framework, has also been providing technical and vo­cational trainings to local youth free of cost. Recently it enrolled 93 students along with 10 spe­cialized diploma programmes. 

Designed to meet the needs of the region’s rapidly growing high-tech industries, the institute offers a diverse range of skill-based training courses, including Maritime & Port Management, Software Technology, Tourism Management, E-Commerce, Me­chatronics, Chinese and English Language, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Construction Engineering, and Overhead Crane Operation.

According to PCTVI Executive Director Prof Dr Manzoor Syed, the institute aims to equip the lo­cal population with the skills nec­essary to support Gwadar’s eco­nomic growth, particularly as the city continues to develop through major industrial projects such as the Gwadar Port Free Zone and Export Processing Zone. As per World Bank Group report May 01, 2023 “Pakistan Human Capi­tal Review: Building Capabilities Throughout Life,” Pakistan is hav­ing lower human capital outcomes than less economically advan­taged groups in peer countries. 

Pakistan’s Human Capital In­dex (HCI) value of 0.41 is low in both absolute and relative terms. It is lower than the South Asia. 

In a bid to make a turnaround, a milestone in technical edu­cational cooperation between China and Pakistan was achieved last year with the formation of the China-Pakistan Digital Educa­tion Alliance.The alliance, jointly initiated by ITMC Technology Co Ltd and UNI International, along with over 160 Chinese and Paki­stani technical and vocational education and training (TVET) partners, aims to strengthen Pak­istan’s TVET system.