Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KPCCI) and Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC) have agreed to joint collaborate for enhancement and promotion of linkages between academia and industries in the province. For this purpose, a project identification committee has been constituted, comprising on vice chancellor of University of Engineering Technology (UET) Peshawar Engr Imtiaz Hussian Gilani, KPCCI former president, Afan Aziz, PEC governing body member Engr Iqbal Younas, and Engr Maqsood Anwar.
The committee would be tasked to boost up academia and industries relations, besides to identify projects for students, belonging to engineering sector. In this regard, it will prepare recommendations to put forward to provincial government to implement it across the province.
The crux was discussed during a meeting with delegation of Pakistan Engineering Council, headed by provincial Secretary Housing and Council vice chairman Zahid Arif, chaired by KPCCI president Fawad Ishaq at the chamber house here on Wednesday. The meeting was also attended by chamber vice president Haji Iqbal Khan, former president Afan Aziz, executive members, along with vice chancellors of various universities.
KPCCI chief while speaking on the occasion underscored the role of industries and academia for boosting of economy of the province. He stressed the development of strong linkages between academia and industries for promotion of industrial sector in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Ishaq said that it was dire need of hour to provide education and training to graduating students from engineering universities as per market requirements, and emphasised that there should be taken steps for provision of practical training and experience to them. He assured the PEC and universities for every kind of support in this regard.
KPCCI president said the funds are available with provincial government and other relevant engineering departments, which he asked, should be extended to industrialists, in order to provide stipends to entrants, working in various industries in the province.
Engr Zahid Arif in his address briefed the participants about initiatives, taken by Pakistan Engineering Council in engineering and technology fields, besides main role and objectives of the council. He expressed the hope the boosting up relations between academic and industries would stabilise national economic situation in the country.
The council, he said, was taking steps for welfare of engineers along with generating maximum job opportunities across the country. He asked the KPCCI to play its effective role in this regard, and should identify projects in industrial sector to provide environment of graduating students of various engineering universities in the province.
UET Vice Chancellor, Imtiaz Gilani agreed with recommendation of KPCCI chief, Zahid Arif, and Afan Aziz, and stated that provincial government should play its due role for promotion of academia and industries relationship. He suggested that a effective and autonomous committee needed to be constituted to identify impediments and projects in the industrial sector. There was dire need of funds for engineers, working in industries, which has been in shape of scholarship to them, he concluded. On the occasion, vice chancellors of various public and private universities, along with industrialists, presented various recommendations for enhancement of relationship between academia and industries in the province.