Pakistan has formally requested China to grant these scholarships to equip young people with education in emerging disciplines and support the modernization of Pakistan’s economy.
Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal said the proposal was presented to Chinese officials during a recent meeting of the Joint Cooperation Committee (JCC) of CPEC. According to him, China responded positively and asked Pakistan to provide further details. The initiative aims to train youth in advanced fields and contribute to the country’s economic modernization under CPEC.
While addressing a press conference in Islamabad, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal issued Development Update October 2025 and said that Pakistan’s economy has been improved significantly. The government was working with relevant stakeholders to develop a seven-point framework for ranking of Pakistani universities in line with global practices.
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He said nearly 60pc of the country’s population was under the age of 30 which required to be upgraded in terms of knowledge base while reining in population growth. Unless controlled, national population would be touching 380 million by 2047 when Pakistan turns 100
The minister said China had been requested to allocate 10,000 PhD scholarships in artificial intelligence, engineering, and emerging sciences at China’s leading universities over the next decade to build a strong human resource base for knowledge-driven growth.
The scholarships would cover areas such as artificial intelligence, engineering, and advanced sciences over the next ten years. Iqbal said the initiative would help build skilled manpower and strengthen the human development side of CPEC.
He said the government also planned to secure 10,000 PhD scholarships from top American universities as well.
Another proposal includes vocational training, youth innovation centres, and internships in Chinese companies to equip young Pakistanis with technology and industry-related skills.
The World Bank recently reported that about 37% of Pakistanis aged 15 to 24 are neither employed nor enrolled in education or training, with the problem more pronounced among women and low-income urban households. It warned that weak education systems and skill shortages could worsen social and economic disparities.
Pakistan and China have also agreed to deepen cooperation in ICT, cybersecurity, spectrum management, and human resource development, along with expanding public awareness of CPEC.
To address gaps in project planning, Pakistan has proposed hiring foreign consultants under a Rs5.4 billion plan currently being reviewed by the Central Development Working Party (CDWP). The Planning Ministry said external expertise would help align policies and projects with global standards.
