Pakistan and Boston University have agreed to expand research cooperation on climate change, sustainable development and climate finance.
Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal held a series of meetings with academic leaders and researchers during his visit to Boston.
Iqbal discusses cooperation in higher education
He met the representatives of the Boston University, the Harvard Kennedy School's Growth Lab, J-PAL and the Cambridge Innovation Center to discuss cooperation in higher education, research, public policy, economic development and technology.
At Boston University, Ahsan Iqbal met Prof. Adil Najam and Vice President for Research Dr. Ken Lutchen to discuss stronger academic cooperation and research partnerships.
The two sides agreed to explore joint research through collaboration between the Pakistan Institute of Development Economics and Boston University, with a focus on climate change, sustainable development and climate finance.
Pakistani students provided opportunities to study abroad
The planning minister said more than 10,000 Pakistani students are being provided with opportunities to pursue PhD studies at leading universities under the US-Pakistan Knowledge Corridor initiative.
He proposed that Pakistani doctoral researchers should conduct research at leading American universities on Pakistan's development priorities, with the institutions providing tuition support while Pakistan covers logistical expenses.
Ahsan Iqbal said Pakistan aimed to build a knowledge-based economy through investment in quality education, research and innovation in partnership with leading international institutions.
He also expressed Pakistan's interest in learning from American universities about the use of artificial intelligence in higher education, modern curricula and teaching methods.
During his meeting at the Harvard Kennedy School's Growth Lab, the minister invited the institution to join the government's URAAN Pakistan initiative to help prepare a comprehensive strategy for transforming Pakistan into a one-trillion-dollar economy by 2035.
The discussions also covered export competitiveness, fiscal reforms, industrial policy and productivity, with the minister saying Pakistan aimed to increase exports to 100 billion US dollars by 2035.
Pakistan's future economic growth will be based on exports
He said that the Pakistan's future economic growth would be based on productivity, innovation and exports.
The minister also visited J-PAL and the Cambridge Innovation Center to discuss evidence-based policymaking, poverty reduction, entrepreneurship and technology commercialisation.
The planning minister reaffirmed the government's commitment to strengthening partnerships with leading American universities and research institutions to build Pakistan's human capital and support innovation.
