Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal addressed the National Leadership Dialogue, stating that technology has triggered a new global revolution and Pakistani universities must adapt themselves to the demands of the new economy.
He said that the vision of Uraan Pakistan is to transform universities into factories of talent and innovation so that higher education can directly contribute to national development. Universities must move beyond textbook-based research and focus on producing practical research that supports economic growth and addresses real challenges faced by industry, agriculture, technology, and society.
Ahsan Iqbal emphasized the need to strengthen systems that convert university research into startups and commercial products. He noted that under Vision 2010 and Vision 2025, billions of rupees were invested to produce thousands of PhDs and expand the network of universities across the country. However, the priority now is to integrate higher education with the national economy.
The federal minister further shared that an agreement has been signed with the University of Cambridge to promote innovation and startup ecosystems in higher education. He said that universities in developed countries serve as centers of knowledge creation and idea generation, adding that Pakistan must enhance value addition and branding of its products to increase exports.
He stressed that universities should not remain confined to academic activities alone but must play an active role in national and economic development. He also revealed that the government is working on a seven-point agenda to improve the quality of education across the country.
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