KARACHI: The University of Karachi has proposed setting up a Pakistan-China Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Cybersecurity, along with a Pakistan-China Museum, ProPakistani reported, in a new push to deepen academic cooperation between the two countries.
Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Khalid Mahmood Iraqi discussed the proposal with Chinese Acting Consul General Feng Deheng during a meeting in Karachi. The two sides explored joint research, faculty and student exchanges and collaboration on innovation.
Pakistan-China AI cybersecurity centre: what is planned
The proposed centre would focus on artificial intelligence and cybersecurity research, two fields in which both countries are investing heavily. The museum would document the history of Pakistan-China relations and academic exchanges between the two countries.
Dr Iraqi plans to visit China in November to sign formal agreements and take the proposal forward.
A 75th anniversary push
The initiative is timed to the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and China, which also coincides with the University of Karachi’s 75th anniversary. Both sides described the milestone year as the right moment to institutionalise academic cooperation.
KU already hosts a Confucius Institute, making it one of Karachi’s main academic bridges to China. The new centre would build on that foundation with a sharper focus on emerging technologies.
Why AI and cybersecurity
Artificial intelligence and cybersecurity sit at the heart of both countries’ technology agendas. China is pouring resources into AI research, while Pakistan is trying to build domestic capacity through university programmes and national partnerships. A joint centre would give Karachi researchers access to Chinese expertise, laboratories and funding, and give Beijing a deeper link to South Asia’s growing tech talent pool.
The timing also reflects Pakistan’s digital vulnerabilities. Universities have become frequent targets of cyberattacks, which is why the national CERT and HEC have moved to formalise cybersecurity cooperation across campuses.
Fits a national pattern
The proposal fits a wider national push. The national CERT and HEC have signed an agreement on cybersecurity in universities, as campuses become bigger targets for digital threats.
It also lands at a moment of change in higher education. Girls outnumbered boys in Punjab college admissions this year, and working adults are returning to higher education in growing numbers.
The centre would add an academic pillar to a relationship that already spans CPEC 2.0 cooperation, extending the partnership from infrastructure and trade into research and technology.
What happens next
The November visit is expected to produce memorandums of understanding covering researcher exchanges, shared laboratories and joint degree programmes, though officials have not released a draft agenda. If the agreements are signed, the centre could begin taking shape next year.
Frequently asked questions
What has the University of Karachi proposed?
A Pakistan-China Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Cybersecurity, plus a Pakistan-China Museum documenting bilateral relations and academic exchanges.
Who discussed the proposal?
KU Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Khalid Mahmood Iraqi and Chinese Acting Consul General Feng Deheng met in Karachi to discuss it.
What happens next?
Dr Iraqi plans to visit China in November to sign formal agreements on the centre and the museum.
