Pakistan, United States reaffirm commitment to expanding education partnership
Islamabad, July 27:Pakistan and the United States have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening educational cooperation and enhancing people-to-people ties, with a particular focus on cybersecurity education, technical training and academic collaboration.
The understanding emerged during a meeting between Federal Minister for Education and Professional Training Dr. Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui and a visiting United States Congressional delegation comprising Congressman Michael James Baumgartner of Washington’s 5th Congressional District and Congressman Ryan Keith Zinke of Montana’s 1st Congressional District and former U.S. Secretary of the Interior. Minister of State for Federal Education and Professional Training Wajiha Qamar, NAVTTC Chairman Qamar-ul-Islam Raja and senior ministry officials also attended the meeting.
Discussions centred on expanding cooperation in cybersecurity education and capacity building. Dr. Siddiqui highlighted the need to introduce specialised cybersecurity courses and certification programmes to prepare students and professionals for evolving digital security challenges. Both sides also explored opportunities for partnerships between Pakistani and U.S. universities in curriculum development, faculty exchanges, research collaboration and knowledge sharing in cybersecurity and other emerging technologies.
Welcoming the congressional delegation, the Federal Minister expressed confidence that the visit would further strengthen the longstanding partnership between Pakistan and the United States. He reaffirmed that relations with the United States remain an important pillar of Pakistan’s foreign policy and noted the positive momentum in bilateral ties.
Both sides underscored the importance of sustained high-level engagement and welcomed the resumption of Congressional Delegation (CODEL) visits. They also reaffirmed their shared commitment to expanding cooperation in education, trade, investment, energy, minerals, health and agriculture while promoting stronger institutional and people-to-people linkages.
