South Punjab’s first Confucius Institute has been inaugurated at Ghazi University, Dera Ghazi Khan, in collaboration with the University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF), marking a significant step in advancing Chinese language and cultural studies in the region. The institute was launched earlier this month with an orientation session attended by faculty members, students, and officials.

Around 200 students have already enrolled in the first phase to learn Chinese reading and speaking skills. Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Ashfaq Ahmad, who led the effort, said the initiative would create “new horizons in education, employment, and business for the youth of South Punjab,” while also boosting opportunities linked to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

The launch at Ghazi University comes as part of a broader expansion of the Confucius Institute at UAF (CI-UAF). In June this year, CI-UAF signed agreements with three universities including the University of Faisalabad (TUF), Cholistan University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Bahawalpur, and Ghazi University, to establish sub-campuses across Punjab.

According to an official statement, the expansion reflects the CI-UAF’s mission to advance Chinese language education, foster cultural exchange, and strengthen academic cooperation between China and Pakistan. The new sub-campuses, particularly in South Punjab, will directly address the growing demand for Chinese language proficiency in Pakistan and enable students to benefit from expanding economic cooperation under CPEC, according to Gwadar Pro.

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