Staff Report
A delegation of students of Sir Syed University of Engineering and Technology had three-day study tour to CPEC with three objectives that includes Physical observation of the projects, Impact on Pakistan socially and culturally and development of human resource.
At the end of the tour, the former ambassador to Germany and High Commissioner of Mauritius, Syed Hasan Javed, delivered a very comprehensive contemporary lecture regarding CPEC and its impact on Pakistan and neighboring countries. The Students were astonished to see that a vast network of highways and railways would be built under the CPEC.
He expressed, “that CPEC is developing knowledge corridor promising bundle of jobs. CPEC will be a strategic game changer in the region, which would go a long way in making Pakistan a richer and stronger entity than ever before.” He further added, “Education is the key to achieving modernization, and science and technology are the first line of defence for a society. Hundreds of years ago, the Holy Prophet Muhammad (SAW) has said, seek knowledge even if you have to go as far as China. Today China emerged as a rising super power in Asia on the basis of higher education and reinventing their values.”
Speaking on the occasion he praised the Chinese and said Chinese adopted no short cuts because one or two persons might succeed in short cuts but not the whole nation.
He added, “China is funding everywhere in the world as America was funding after the Second World War. During last 15 years, the number of companies in China has risen from 3 to 115. This is because of higher education. Progress without higher education is unsustainable. 5 universities out of 10 major universities in Asia belong to China. 5000 students are doing MPhil in China and 4 million students of China got higher education from overseas. 97 percent Chinese students are self-funded. China has become world second largest R&D performed country and boasts second largest number of think tank.”
Syed Hasan Javed who is presently associated with a university in Islamabad as Director, Chinese Studies Centre of Excellence said, “China developed the concept of ‘one belt one road’ which includes 57 countries among which 53 are Muslim countries. Chinese know that prosperity of a country is connected to the prosperity of neighboring countries.”
Focusing on policy reforms, China is reforming intellectuals to develop intellectual reform society. China is investing in human resource sector to increase per capita income. As a result, a bundle of jobs are available in different sectors. Today China needs a large number of professionally skilled labor. On the contrary people in Pakistan are still trapped in fascinating slogans in the era of globalization. We have the history of missing opportunities. Ribbon cutting culture should be replaced with the practical application of scientific knowledge in the society.
He urged to learn Chinese language and to comprehend the mindset of Chinese people and their culture. Sir Syed Ahmed Khan convinced Muslims to learn English at that time to develop a good rapport with them. Today time demands to follow Sir Syed’s mission of getting higher education and scientific knowledge.