Pakistan is to participate in the Second Joint Technicians Training Program (JTTP). being launched by Hunan University of Chinese Medicine (HUCM), China, and the Ministerial Standing Committee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation (COMSTECH). It is aimed at strengthening scientific and technical capacity across the Islamic world. The flagship initiative under the OIC-China partnership, will take place from June 8 to June 17, 2025, at HUCM’s high-tech research campus in Changsha, China, Gwadar Pro reported on Saturday.

The second JTTP is set to convene 19 select technicians and early-career researchers from OIC member countries and other developing nations, offering them advanced, hands-on training in laboratory sciences and instrumentation. The training will focus on cutting-edge diagnostic and analytical techniques such as LCMS, GCMS, FTIR, MS, and NMR, all taught within HUCM’s world-class facilities.

The program directly addresses a key challenge confronting the OIC region; a shortage of highly trained technical professionals in the STEM sectors. As OIC countries grapple with intersecting challenges like public health crises, poverty, food insecurity, and climate change, the lack of skilled technical manpower continues to slow scientific progress and innovation.

According to COMSTECH, the initiative represents a strategic investment in human capital and a recognition of the untapped scientific potential across the 57-member OIC bloc. “This is not just a training program—it is a capacity-building mission aimed at empowering the Global South,” said a COMSTECH spokesperson.

The partnership between HUCM and COMSTECH symbolizes the growing academic and scientific cooperation between China and the Islamic world. By offering specialized training to laboratory technologists, technicians, and researchers—particularly women and candidates from Least Developed Countries (LDCs), the program also supports goals of inclusivity, equity, and sustainable development.

Eligible candidates include professionals affiliated with universities, hospitals, and research institutions who hold degrees in engineering technology, laboratory sciences, or other STEM-related fields. The participants also include seven females including two from Uganda and one each from Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, Sudan and Turkey.

The JTTP highlights China’s expanding influence as a scientific partner for developing nations, especially within the OIC. HUCM, known for its interdisciplinary research in modern medicine, biotechnology, and traditional Chinese medicine, brings a unique blend of expertise to the partnership.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP) — Pak-China