by Raheela Nazir, Jiang Chao

ISLAMABAD, Aug. 11 (Xinhua) -- At the Luban Workshop in Pakistan's eastern Lahore city, 20-year-old Mughees Ahmed's passion for machines and systems was evident as he moved between the equipment, enthusiastically explaining their operations and handling.

After completing his three-year diploma in associate electrical engineering at a college in Lahore, Ahmed decided to take his skills and strengths to new heights by enrolling himself at the Luban Workshop, which was jointly established by China's Tianjin Modern Vocational Technology College and the Technical Education and Vocational Training Authority (TEVTA) of Punjab in 2018.

"I'm learning the skills of industrial automation and robotics here. China is leading the world in technology. For the Pakistani youth who have a quest for technical skills and want to excel in that field, this workshop has been serving the purpose and benefiting hundreds of students in Pakistan," the student said, adding that the initiative is empowering the Pakistani youth.

The Luban Workshop provides modern training labs, equipment and digital learning platforms in line with the Chinese technical standards, having trained over 1,000 students so far.

"Hundreds of students who have trained at the workshop are now employed in major industries in Pakistan and abroad, earning lucrative salaries and supporting their families," Ahmed said.

Calling the initiative a "blessing" for students eager to learn modern technologies despite limited financial resources, Ahmed stressed the need for establishing more such training centers in other cities of Pakistan to benefit students pursuing technical training.

Echoing Ahmed, another student, Asad Usman, said the collaboration between Pakistan and China is commendable as it is imparting modern technological knowledge to Pakistani students under the guidance of Chinese supervisors and with access to the necessary laboratory equipment.

"With the provision of the latest Chinese lab equipment designed according to the latest industrial needs, my classmates and I are getting hands-on experience of the automatic production line and modern technologies. After completing the course, we will be skilled enough to work in modern industries of Pakistan," he said.

Usman expressed a strong desire to gain firsthand experience with modern technologies in China, intending to return to his country to promote industrial modernization in Pakistan.

Shehzad Yousaf, principal of Luban Workshop in Lahore, said the training program is designed to equip youth with future-oriented, globally competitive practical skills essential for thriving in the fourth-generation industrial revolution.

He emphasized that the workshop has been playing a transformative role in cultivating local talents and transferring modern Chinese technologies, techniques and skills to Pakistan.

The program aims to strengthen the industrial capacity of Pakistan, bridge the skills gap, facilitate the digital transformation of small and medium enterprises, reduce unemployment, and promote social empowerment, said the principal.

Commenting on the supply of skilled manpower for the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), Yousaf said that the students trained at various training and vocational centers jointly established by Pakistan and China are increasingly contributing to the success of CPEC, a flagship project of China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

"The Chinese companies operating in Pakistan under CPEC now prefer to hire locally due to the availability of trained workers, which helps reduce costs and enhance local engagement," he added.

TEVTA Punjab Chairman Muhammad Sajid Khokhar said that the Luban Workshop reinforces friendship between Pakistan and China by building human capital and offering long-term sustainable growth through education, a symbol of international collaboration, technological advancement and youth empowerment.

To meet the goals of the BRI, upgrading technical and vocational training is as crucial as a skilled workforce, Khokhar said, adding that the Luban Workshop and other joint educational platforms in Pakistan are fulfilling the objectives of the BRI and promoting high-quality talents for the locals as well as the international industry. ■