Academia must play key role in CPEC Phase-II: LCCI

LAHORE, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 13th Apr, 2026) Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) organized an important session on “The Role of Academia in the Second Phase of CPEC” at its premises on Monday, aimed at strengthening collaboration between academia and industry to fully benefit from emerging opportunities under CPEC Phase-II.

Consul General of China in Lahore, Excellency Mr. Sun Yan, was the chief guest, while a large number of representatives from academia, industry and other stakeholders attended the event.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Sun Yan reaffirmed China’s full support for strengthening academic cooperation with Pakistan. He highlighted that China is ready to extend cooperation in establishing modern laboratories, research centers, and technology transfer programmes in Pakistani universities. He emphasized that universities should be transformed into solution providers for industry so that academic collaboration can be translated into tangible economic outcomes, innovation and industrial growth.

He further stated that enhanced collaboration between academia and industry would not only support industrial development under CPEC (China-Pakistan Economic Corridor) but would also contribute to building a skilled workforce capable of meeting future challenges.

President LCCI Faheem Ur Rehman Saigol said, the CPEC has now entered into its second phase, which focuses on industrial cooperation, Special Economic Zones (SEZs), agriculture, technology transfer, and human resource development.

He emphasized that this phase requires a strong role of academia, as universities must evolve from traditional institutions into centers of innovation, research and economic development.

He said that universities can play a key role by aligning their curricula with industry needs, producing a skilled workforce, promoting research and development, and encouraging entrepreneurship through incubation centers and business accelerators. He further highlighted that strong industry-academia linkages are essential to ensure productivity, innovation and global competitiveness, particularly in Special Economic Zones.

The LCCI President also stressed the importance of collaboration between Pakistani and Chinese academic institutions, noting that joint research programmes, student exchanges, and faculty-level cooperation can significantly enhance knowledge sharing and technology transfer, thereby strengthening the overall impact of CPEC Phase-II.

The session concluded with a consensus on the need to build strong and sustainable linkages between academia, industry and policymakers to maximize the benefits of CPEC Phase-II and promote economic growth in Pakistan.

The LCCI reiterated its commitment to continue organizing such sessions to facilitate dialogue among stakeholders and to promote practical collaboration for national development.