Ahsan seeks deeper Pakistan-Cornell partnership in education, innovation

Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal on Wednesday called for expanding Pakistan's collaboration with Cornell University in higher education, research, innovation and emerging technologies to help build a knowledge-based economy.

In a meeting with Cornell University

NEW YORK, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 15th Jul, 2026) Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal on Wednesday called for expanding Pakistan's collaboration with Cornell University in higher education, research, innovation and emerging technologies to help build a knowledge-based economy.

In a meeting with Cornell University Provost Professor Dr Kavita Bala and Vice Provost for International Affairs, the minister said investment in universities was the foundation of national progress, noting that world-class universities drive innovation, economic growth, governance and national development, a news release said.

Highlighting Pakistan's vision of a knowledge-based economy, he briefed the university leadership on the government's flagship US-Pakistan Knowledge Corridor initiative, aimed at enabling 10,000 Pakistani scholars to pursue PhD studies at leading international universities.

Ahsan proposed collaboration between Cornell's Brooks school of Public Policy and Pakistan's National School of Public Policy (NSPP) to support its transformation into a National University of Public Administration through faculty exchanges, curriculum development and executive training.

He also invited Cornell to partner with Pakistan's proposed Dr Ishfaq Ahmad Center of Excellence on Emerging Technologies, which would focus on research in biotechnology, agricultural technology, artificial intelligence and other frontier technologies.

The minister further proposed joint research on the impact of artificial intelligence on higher education, saying Pakistan was keen to benefit from Cornell's expertise in AI-enabled teaching and learning.

Cornell's leadership welcomed the proposals and expressed interest in expanding academic engagement with Pakistan, including encouraging greater participation of Pakistani students in graduate and doctoral programmes through Fulbright-supported opportunities.

<?php /*?> <?php */?>

During visits to the Cornell Institute of Biotechnology and the Cornell College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS), the minister discussed cooperation in agricultural research, biotechnology, digital agriculture, innovation and climate resilience.

Describing Pakistan as an agrarian economy, he stressed the need to enhance agricultural productivity, value addition and climate resilience under the government's URAAN Pakistan initiative.

He proposed joint applied research projects, including the establishment of a centralized research laboratory, development of improved crop varieties, agricultural cluster mapping and collaboration across the agricultural value chain to strengthen productivity and export competitiveness.

During a visit to the Center for Life Science Ventures (CLSV), Ahsan was briefed on Cornell's innovation ecosystem and held discussions on promoting technology commercialization, startup incubation and university-industry partnerships.

He invited Cornell experts to support Pakistan in establishing innovation centers and share institutional frameworks and best practices for fostering technology-driven entrepreneurship.

The minister also participated in discussions at Cornell's Brooks School of Public Policy on strengthening cooperation in public policy education, research and institutional capacity building between the university and Pakistan's Ministry of Planning, Development and Special Initiatives.

Addressing Pakistani researchers and students at the university, Ahsan highlighted the government's higher education reforms and urged scholars abroad to contribute their expertise and research networks towards Pakistan's national development.