President Malik Imran Ishaq says industry-academia linkages vital to address skills gap
Times Report
PESHAWAR, Nov4: President, Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry Malik Imran Ishaq emphasized the need for stronger linkages between academia and industry to better harness the talent of the youth in addressing industry-specific challenges and requirements.
President Malik Imran Ishaq addressing at a consultative meeting with various public-private sector universities of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, hosted by Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry in collaboration with Higher Education Department (HED) said industry-academia collaboration is a prime source of knowledge creation, innovation and economic growth.
SCCI chief emphasised that closer collaboration between educational institutions and industry is essential to enhance productivity, competitiveness, and skills development.
President Malik Imran Ishaq called for stronger and structured collaboration between academia and industry to bridge Pakistan’s skills gap, equip university graduates with market-oriented skills and improve their employability.
He said SCCI would act as an effective bridge to connect universities, industry and policymakers.
Dr Syed Aamir Abdullah, Advisor to Governor on Education was chief guest on the occasion. Apart from the SCCI’s senior vice president Naeemur Rehman, vice president Abid Pervaiz Awan, Businessman Forum leader and former FPCCI president Ghazanfar Bilour, former presidents Faiz Muhammad Faizi, members of the chamber’s executive committee Abidullah Yousafzai, Khalid Khan, Musarrat Shah, Asim Shahzad, Zahid Khan, Malang Khan and Sarfaraz Khan and Secretary General of the chamber Muqtasid Ahsan, traders and industrialists, Directors ORICs of Malakand University, Agriculture University, Benazir Women University (Dr. Nargis), Peshawar University, Hazara University, Kohat University, Special Secretary HED Fazal Hussain, were also present during the meeting.
Business leaders and the senior officials of the universities held discussion on Livestock, Medicinal plants and their extracts for commercialization, Utilization of wasted fruits to make them productive and other key sectors and vowed to strengthen industry-academia linkages through joint initiatives.
Businessmen and academicians stressed building strong relations and coordination between ORICs and industries for research and its subsequent sale/commercialization and proposed establishment of R&D Bank.
Advisor to Governor KP on Education Dr Syed Aamer Abdullah while speaking on the occasion highlighted the government’s key priorities toward uplift of the education sector, stating that a comprehensive strategy is being outlined to reform both the higher, elementary, and secondary education sectors.
The Governor’s advisor emphasized the vital importance of strengthening industry-academia linkages to resolve institutional challenges, improve research standards, and ensure financial and academic stability across the province’s educational system.
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