Industry and Educational Institutions Linkages: Forum Organized by FPCCI
Elimination of Skills Gap, Collaboration between Academia and Industry Essential, Experts Express Views at Forum

Islamabad (News Reporter) A forum titled “Skilling Pakistan: Challenges and Opportunities to Learn from Best Practices” was held at the President Secretariat of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) regarding the linkages between educational institutions and industry. The forum was organized in collaboration with FPCCI, Young Entrepreneurs Summit, HEC Task Force for Business Incubation Centers, Atlas Vocational Training Institute, and Vice Chancellors Forum of Federal Universities. Educators, policymakers, industrialists, and heads of universities participated in the forum and emphasized the need for continuous collaboration between educational institutions and industry to address the skills shortage in the country and prepare graduates according to market needs. In this important forum, FPCCI President Atif Ikram Sheikh stressed that addressing the skills gap is essential for Pakistan’s economic survival in the modern era. He stated that meaningful collaboration between educational institutions and industry, practical research, and the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and modern technology in higher education have become fundamental requirements for sustainable development, rather than optional. The chair of the important meeting, Atif Ikram Sheikh, highlighted that universities must transform into innovation hubs that produce job creators rather than job seekers. He assured that FPCCI is ready to provide all possible support for equipping youth with future skills through joint research projects, modernizing corporate laboratories, and reforming educational curricula according to market needs. On this occasion, FPCCI Vice President Tariq Mahmood Jadoon and Chairman of FPCCI Capital Office Karim Aziz Malik represented FPCCI, while CEO of the Inter-University Consortium Muhammad Murtaza Noor, HEC Member Research and Academics Professor Dr. Syed Habib Ali Bukhari, Chairman of Pakistan Science Foundation Professor Dr. Muhammad Akmal, HEC Advisor Professor Dr. Muhammad Ali Nasir, and Director General of the Prime Minister’s Youth Program Dr. Syed Shahbaz Hussain Shamsi addressed the gathering. During the event, a video showcasing the technical training developed by Atlas Vocational Training Institute was also presented. The session reviewed successful models from Pak Austria Institute Haripur, Government College University Faisalabad, Honda Atlas, Health Services Academy, and Rawalpindi Women University. The speakers suggested that industry experts should be involved in curriculum development and that the curriculum should be aligned with modern market demands. The forum recommended that internships for students be made mandatory, practical, and result-oriented to provide them with real work experience. Furthermore, the practical role of industrialists in higher education, teaching, research, and new business ventures was deemed necessary. Discussing the importance of artificial intelligence and modern technology, experts urged universities to equip students with digital skills, business acumen, and professional competencies. Participants suggested strengthening the ORIC (Office of Research, Innovation and Commercialization) and BIC (Business Incubation Center) sectors through professional staff and modernizing laboratories through corporate social responsibility funds so that students can find solutions to real industrial problems. Atif Ikram Sheikh, President of FPCCI, along with Vice President Tariq Mahmood Jadoon and Capital Office In-Charge Karim Aziz Malik welcomed all guests and assured complete support from the chamber to fill the educational and industrial gap. They further stated that regional trade centers play a fundamental role in human resource development, and joint efforts are essential for empowering youth. At the end of the program, Director General of the Prime Minister’s Youth Program Dr. Syed Shahbaz Hussain Shamsi announced that the federal government has declared 2027 as the “Year of Skills” to promote technical education across the country. At the conclusion of the event, all participants were invited to attend the Young CEOs, Entrepreneurs, and Innovators Summit, Expo, and Awards scheduled for mid-October 2026 in Islamabad. All attendees appreciated the holding of this session and emphasized the need for such programs to be conducted regularly.