The China Chamber of Commerce in Pakistan (CCCPK) and Pakistan’s National Vocational and Technical Training Commission (NAVTTC) on Tuesday inaugurated Job Fair 2025 at Islamabad’s Pak-China Friendship Center, offering 500 employment opportunities to talented Pakistani technical and vocational graduates.
Held under the theme “Bridging Skills; Building Futures,” the job fair brought together 20 leading Chinese companies operating in Pakistan. Organized under the guidance of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Pakistan, the event’s chief guests were Chinese Ambassador Jiang Zaidong, and Education and Professional Training Minister Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui.
The event launched with keynote remarks by Minister of State Wajiha Qamar, Minister Counselor of the Chinese Embassy Yang Guangyuan, CCCPK Chairman Wang Huihua, and NAVTTC Chairperson Gulmina Bilal. In her note, Qamar said the event was more than just a job fair; it was a declaration that Pakistan is unleashing the full potential of its youth. She applauded the NAVTCC’s championing of URAAN Pakistan, stressing it was creating leaders and building economies, not just jobs.
The minister of state informed the participants that boys, girls, madrassah students, and differently abled children were all receiving skills relevant for the workforce in I.T., e-learning platforms, game development, A.I. “Pakistan doesn’t walk alone; China has been walking with us,” she said. “Like family. We don’t just build roads, we build futures,” she added.
Yang Guangyuan highlighted that China and Pakistan were working together for a new phase of CPEC. He expressed confidence in the leadership of both countries, noting the first quarter of this year had seen a majority of Chinese companies express interest in expanding businesses in Pakistan. “Youth is the greatest asset of Pakistan,” he said, adding this was the first time the relevant entities of both countries had arranged such a job fair. The timing is especially relevant, he said, as the 2nd phase of CPEC will focus on manufacturing, significantly boosting job creation in Pakistan.
Thanking all attendees, Wang Huihua highlighted the contributions of CPEC in not only energy generation and road construction, but also massive job creation. He said over 30,000 Pakistanis were currently employed at CCCPK’s member companies.
Gulmina Bilal thanked CCCPK for its relentless efforts in coordinating with NAVTTC to ensure the event’s success. She noted NAVTTC had produced a work-ready workforce of men, women, transpeople, religious students, reflecting the breadth of Pakistan. She said skill training is key to progress, adding this was a lesson Pakistan had learnt from China. She hoped the Job Fair would be first of many such events across Pakistan.
The fair, sponsored by Tang International Education, ITMC Technology Co. Limited, UNI Services International (Pvt.) Limited, and City and Guilds, served as a vital platform for career guidance, CV collection, and face-to-face interviews between graduates and recruiters. A special afternoon session included a VIP round of stalls by the chief guests, who engaged with both employers and jobseekers, appreciating the talent pool and the commitment of companies toward skill transfer and local hiring.
This collaboration between CCCPK and NAVTTC highlights the significance of this initiative in aligning Pakistan’s vocational talent with modern industrial needs, while fostering international partnerships.