Federal Minister for Planning, Development & Reform Ahsan Iqbal today stated,” US-Pakistan Knowledge Corridor is high on the radar of bilateral relations between Pakistan and USA and is the most important initiative taken in decades-long strategic relations between the two countries. During a meeting with USAID Mission Director John Groarke, who called on him at Ministry of Planning, Development & Reform. Ahsan Iqbal highlighted the initiatives being taken to bring improvement in social sector particularly in education and health. He pointed out that country faces shortage in quality human resource to meet growing needs of expanding universities network in the country. “Country needs ten thousands Ph.ds scholars in next ten years to meet the faculty needs of universities and US-Pakistan Knowledge Corridor will help Pakistan to produce these Ph.ds in future”, he stated. Minister Planning & Development recalled that unfortunately, Pakistan missed the opportunities in the past to benefit from the real strength of USA i.e. its universities to revolutionize its education sector. However, present government realizes the importance of benefiting from USA universities. He emphasized the need to create the awareness for proper grooming of Pakistani students for Ph.ds programmes in USA universities and urged USAID to helpPakistan through capacity building measures in this regard. In response to offer of USAID Director to contribute in China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, Minister welcomed the offer and said that there are tremendous opportunities of cooperation and collaboration in it. He, however asked USAID representative to come up with tangible proposal. Ahsan Iqbal emphasized the need to harness the potential of Pakistani Diaspora by offering them tax incentives for social uplift projects in Pakistan. He shared his plan of laying telemedicine infrastructure in DHQs to connect with top Pakistani doctors in USA to raise the level of treatment in Pakistan. “I believe it offer opportunity to Pakistani doctors in USA as well as with Pakistan IT engineers in USA to help Pakistan become IT centre of the region”, he stated. USAID Director commended the plan of US-Pakistan Knowledge Corridor and said it would be instrumental to further strength the bilateral ties by expanding them into social sector. He also apprised the minister about USAID contribution to bring improvement in education sector of the country particularly in backward areas of the country.
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