Naveed Ahmed

A science and technology cooperation centre has been established in Beijing to enhance collaboration between Pakistan and China. The centre will facilitate collaboration between individuals, companies and institutions in both countries. Shahid Raza, Strategic Communications Lead, Special Technology Zones Authority (STZA), told WealthPK that the STZA and the China Zhongguancun Belt and Road Industrial Promotion Association (ZBRA) have established the China-Pakistan Science and Technology Cooperation Centre in Beijing.

More than 3,000 Chinese technological enterprises virtually joined the centre’s opening ceremony. Shahid said the science and technology centre will serve as a coordinating office for Chinese and Pakistani enterprises to foster innovations and people-to-people and student-to-student cooperation channels. Moreover, the centre will provide a platform for technology transfer, collaboration, and cross-border investment between businesses.

Shahid said the centre’s primary interest would be fostering collaboration in artificial intelligence (AI), big data, cloud computing, robots, financial technology, blockchain, and biotechnology. He said a delegation of Chinese enterprises will visit Pakistan for an in-depth field investigation. The STZA invites Chinese technology companies, investors, and large-scale enterprises to engage in strategic conversations to explore future opportunities. Chinese tech companies and research centres are drawn to Pakistan because of its educated young population.

Through this project, the STZA will continue to work on developing human capital, transferring technology, and creating jobs in Pakistan, focusing on youth innovation and entrepreneurship. He talked about the government’s plan to build a digital ecosystem with infrastructure and institutional frameworks that makes sure everyone has access to ICT (information and communication technologies) services that are cheap, reliable, and of high quality. “The ultimate goal is to boost people’s standard of living and economic security.

The talented, computer-literate, and tech-savvy young people of Pakistan would be crucial to bolstering bilateral scientific and technological collaboration,” Shahid said. “As part of its international partnerships and agreements, this STZ initiative aims to set up a technology-based knowledge economy in Pakistan. This will help diversify economic indicators and create a new engine for fast economic growth,” he added. He said the STZA had already declared special technology zones (STZs) in Islamabad, Lahore, and Haripur as part of its plan to roll out the program across the country.

He said the STZs are also being planned for Sindh, Balochistan, Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK). The STZs are established to meet the goals of economic growth. They also support green growth and protect the environment. Shahid suggested that Chinese and Pakistani universities must collaborate on research and development projects. He said the ZBRA and STZA are looking into ways to work together to help STZs grow in Pakistan.

Credit : Independent News Pakistan-WealthPk