Chinese Language Skills Open Job Doors for Pakistani Youth
At the 2023 CPEC and People-to-People Exchange Forum, Dr. Tahir Mumtaz Awan, Director of the China Study Centre at COMSATS University, highlighted the job opportunities that learning Chinese brings to Pakistani youth. Given China’s status as Pakistan’s largest trading partner, proficiency in Chinese can significantly expand job prospects, particularly in trade, technology, and infrastructure sectors.
Dr. Awan noted the rising trend of Pakistani students pursuing higher education in China. Acknowledging the substantial youth population as the backbone of Pakistan’s workforce, he emphasized the importance of investing in language skills for their professional growth and national development.
Apart from economic benefits, learning Chinese fosters cultural understanding and strengthens people-to-people ties between China and Pakistan. Initiatives in Pakistan, such as establishing China-Pakistan Higher Education Research Institutes and the CPEC Consortium of Universities, are dedicated to promoting Chinese language learning, as reported by Gwadar Pro.
Efforts by institutions like the Confucius Institute at the University of Karachi are pivotal in enhancing cultural exchanges between the two countries. Collaborative programs and language centers established under CPEC projects, like the Thar Block-1 Integrated Mine-Power Project, aim to provide language support for CPEC’s construction and facilitate cultural exchange.
Yin Xiaohu, Deputy CEO of Bank of China Karachi Branch, praised the impact of the Confucius Institute, stating that students trained by the institute play vital roles in bridging cultural gaps, and fostering a more inclusive environment for the bank’s development.