President of the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI), Sardar Tahir Mehmood, has stated that empowering teachers with modern teaching methodologies represents a vital investment in Pakistan’s future, as educators shape coming generations. He made these remarks while addressing the concluding session of the Teachers’ Training Workshop on “21st Century Teaching Skills,” organized by ICCI in collaboration with SOS Foundation and EduTransform.
Modern Education System Needed for Global Trends
Mehmood highlighted that the era of Artificial Intelligence, digital transformation, and global connectivity demands a modern education system aligned with emerging global trends. He emphasized that economic progress and educational excellence go hand in hand, adding that ICCI has expanded its role beyond business advocacy by promoting education, youth development, innovation, entrepreneurship, technology, and academia-industry collaboration.
ICCI’s International Partnerships and Commitment
He noted that the Chamber’s growing partnerships with China, Africa, and the Middle East, along with its focus on skills development and the digital economy, reflect its commitment to building a knowledge-driven and prosperous Pakistan.
High Commissioner Calls for Originality and Innovation
Pakistan’s High Commissioner to Rwanda, H.E. Naeem Khan, stated that quality education must be driven by originality, innovation, and effective communication. He urged teachers to inspire students to think creatively, conduct original research, and adopt practical learning approaches instead of relying on rote methods. Sharing his international academic experience, he highlighted the effectiveness of direct teaching methods and invited Pakistani universities to strengthen academic collaboration with Rwanda through student and faculty exchange programmes. He also proposed a Public-Private Academic Partnership (PPAP) model to connect academia, government, and industry for innovation, entrepreneurship, and research commercialization.
Workshop Aims and Expert Insights
Earlier, Dr. Abdus Salam, Convener of the ICCI Standing Committee on Education and CEO of SOS Foundation, said the workshop aimed to equip educators with modern pedagogical skills to meet the demands of 21st century classrooms. He added that in collaboration with the Chamber, they would continue to convene such significant workshops for the benefit of teachers in the future. Dr. Aneela Malik, CEO of EduTransform and Vice Chairperson of the ICCI Standing Committee on Education, shared practical insights on innovative teaching strategies and educational leadership in an effective and impressive manner.
Participants Appreciate Collaboration
Participants from public and private sectors appreciated ICCI, SOS Foundation, and EduTransform for organizing the workshop and reaffirmed their commitment to promoting excellence in education through stronger collaboration between academia and industry. The ICCI Vice President Irfan Chaudhry, Executive members Waseem Chaudhry, Zulqurnain Abbasi, Imran Minhas, and ICCI members in large numbers also attended the session.
