Pakistan Engineering Council Launches Online Chinese Course
The Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC) has introduced a year-long, tuition-free Chinese language programme to enhance collaboration between Pakistani engineers and Chinese companies working in Pakistan. The initiative, launched in partnership with Shanghai Electric, will begin on December 1 and will be delivered entirely online to ensure broader national accessibility.
According to PEC, the programme aims to help Pakistani engineers acquire essential communication skills required for joint Pakistan-China projects, which have grown significantly as part of expanding economic, industrial and infrastructure cooperation. The course is open to all Pakistani nationals with valid PEC registration who completed their engineering degrees between 2018 and 2025, regardless of discipline. Priority will be given to applicants from underprivileged backgrounds, while the council has also encouraged greater participation from women engineers.
Applicants must submit a motivation letter, maintain a minimum of 80 percent attendance and complete daily assignments to remain enrolled. The programme requires around one hour of study per day, five days a week, and a stable internet connection. Shortlisted candidates will be invited for an online interview before final selection. The deadline to apply is November 20.
This language training initiative follows an agreement PEC signed in September in China, strengthening a long-term capacity-building partnership with three prominent Chinese companies under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Under this partnership, 100 Pakistani engineers will undergo hands-on technical training at the Thar Coal Block-1 project over the next five years.
A scholarship fund of Rs. 350 million has also been established to support 175 deserving engineering students pursuing higher studies, while exchange programmes will provide young engineers opportunities to train in China’s energy sector. The agreement further includes the launch of online Chinese-language instruction to improve communication between Pakistani and Chinese engineering teams.
PEC termed the collaboration a milestone for practical training, international exposure and skill development, noting that it will help open new career pathways for Pakistani engineers and contribute to Pakistan’s long-term energy and industrial needs. The agreement involves Thar Coal Block-1 Power Generation Company, Sino Sindh Resources and Shanghai Electric Engineering Consulting Company, and was formalised during the prime minister’s recent visit to China at a business-to-business conference.