New Centre Boosts Engineering Skills for CPEC Projects
PowerChina International Group Limited has officially inaugurated the Centre of Excellence for Engineering Capacity Building in Islamabad, marking Pakistan’s first specialised hub for preparing engineers for China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) initiatives, according to Gwadar Pro.
In a statement issued by the Chinese Society of Engineers (CSE) Secretariat, it was confirmed that CSE and PowerChina have signed a cooperation agreement to jointly develop the centre as a platform for technical exchange, skills enhancement, and knowledge transfer. Under the agreement, the two organisations will promote Chinese construction standards, offer specialised training, and certify engineers for major clean-energy and water-sector projects across Pakistan. The agreement was finalised on 10 November.
P.c. China Pakistan Economic Corridor
This development follows a mutual-recognition framework agreed in June between CSE and the Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC), a move expected to alleviate workforce shortages faced by Chinese firms operating in Pakistan’s energy and infrastructure sectors.
PowerChina—recognised globally for its hydropower expertise—will manage the centre, offering training modules, hands-on guidance from Chinese instructors, and access to pilot projects. According to a joint statement released after the signing ceremony in Beijing, Islamabad becomes the fourth global location to house a CSE-branded training centre, joining Johannesburg, Rio de Janeiro, and Cairo. The network forms part of China’s broader Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) approach to harmonise engineering standards among partner countries.
The initiative aims to create a pool of qualified Pakistani engineers capable of supporting ongoing power and transport projects under CPEC, helping accelerate progress while strengthening local capability.
In a separate statement, POWERCHINA affirmed that the new centre will serve as a comprehensive platform for knowledge sharing, professional training, and standards alignment, nurturing the next generation of engineering professionals essential for bilateral development programmes. The company added that through China-based training sessions, on-site learning opportunities in Pakistan, and collaborative workshops, both countries will combine strengths to advance technical capacity and deepen long-term engineering cooperation.