The Federal Minister for Planning and Development visited Urumqi and received a warm welcome from the vice president of Xinjiang University and Pakistani students on campus. During the visit the minister proposed a formal University Partnership between Xinjiang University and Karakoram International University Gilgit to deepen academic and research cooperation and strengthen knowledge exchange across the Pak China border regions.
The university provided a comprehensive briefing covering its history, academic departments, founding members, faculty and ongoing research activities, as well as established links with industry. Officials highlighted that government research funding is closely tied to national development priorities while about 40 percent of the university’s research support comes directly from industry, underscoring a strong academic–industry model that aligns research with practical economic goals.
Both sides welcomed the proposal and agreed to develop a joint roadmap to implement the University Partnership, aiming to foster collaborative projects, student and faculty exchanges, and shared research initiatives. The move is expected to open a new chapter in educational cooperation between Pakistan and China, with tangible benefits for border communities in Xinjiang and Gilgit-Baltistan and stronger ties between academia and industry for national development.
