By AIT International Affairs, Office of International and Public Affairs
The Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) successfully concluded a high-level mission to Pakistan from 26–30 April 2025, led by President Professor Pai-Chi Li. The mission aimed to deepen institutional partnerships, expand scholarship opportunities, and strengthen engagement with government bodies, development partners, and academic institutions.
During the visit, the AIT delegation held strategic meetings with senior government officials, the Country Director of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in Pakistan, and representatives of major universities. The delegation also engaged in productive discussions with the AIT alumni community in Pakistan.
A major highlight of the mission took place on 29 April, when President Li met with Mr. Syed Zafar Ali Shah, Project Director of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Cities Improvement Project (KPCIP), and his team in Peshawar. During this meeting, AIT signed a new Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with the Project Management Unit (PMU-KPCIP) on behalf of the Local Government, Elections, and Rural Development Department (LGE&RDD), Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (GoKP). The agreement secures funding for a second batch of 25 ADB-sponsored master’s scholarships for the August 2025 semester. This collaboration builds on the initial agreement signed in May 2024, which enabled 30 female scholars from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to join AIT in August 2024. During the dinner reception hosted by KPCIP Project Director, President Li also met Mr. Ashraf Afridi, Special Secretary of LGE&RDD, GOKP and discussed briefly about opening AIT campus in Pakistan in future.
In Islamabad, President Li paid a courtesy call to Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed, Chairman of the Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan, to discuss the renewal of the agreement between AIT and HEC. The discussions focused on the continuation and expansion of capacity-building programs, including long-term master’s and doctoral scholarships, as well as short-term training and certification initiatives. The Chairman also welcomed AIT for opening its satellite campus in Pakistan and extended the full support from the Government side.
President Li also met with Ms. Xiaoqin Fan, ADB Country Director for Pakistan, to explore future collaborations, including scholarship opportunities and development projects across multiple sectors.
In the realm of academic partnerships, AIT renewed its academic and research collaboration agreement with the National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST) in Islamabad and the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the University of Engineering and Technology (UET), Peshawar. Additionally, new MoUs were signed with the University of Peshawar (UOP) and the University of Agriculture (UAP), Peshawar, marking the start of new institutional collaborations aimed at academic exchange and joint research.
The mission also included an interactive meeting with the AIT Alumni Association – Pakistan Chapter, where President Li met with Mr. Irshad Ramay, Pakistan Chapter President, past alumni leaders, and other members to explore ways to further engage alumni in supporting the Institute’s strategic goals and strengthening AIT’s presence in Pakistan.
The Pakistan mission reaffirms AIT’s commitment to human resource development in the region through strategic partnerships with government bodies, universities, and development partners. It highlights AIT’s dedication to advancing education, research, and capacity-building initiatives in support of sustainable development.
President Li was accompanied on the mission by AIT delegates, including:
- Prof. Abdul Salam, Dean, School of Environment, Resources and Development
- Dr. Ekbordin Winijkul, Department Head, Water Resources and Environmental Engineering, School of Engineering and Technology
- Dr. Sumana Shrestha, Director, International Affairs, Office of International and Public Affairs (OIPA)
- Ms. Indra Kumari, Senior Program Officer, International Affairs, OIPA
MoA Signing Ceremony with PMU-KPCIP, GOKP
Meeting with Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed, HEC Chairman
Meeting with Ms. Xiaoqin Fan, ADB Pakistan Country Director
Agreements Signing with Four Universities:
With Dr. Osman Hasan, Pro-Rector Academics of National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST)
With Prof. Dr. Muhammad Naeem Qazi, Vice Chancellor of the University of Peshawar (UOP)
With Prof. Qaisar Ali, Vice Chancellor of the University of Engineering and Technology (UET), Peshawar
With Prof. Dr. Jehan Bakht, Vice Chancellor of the University of Agriculture (UAP), Peshawar
Meeting with AIT Alumni Pakistan Chapter President Mr. Irshad Ramay and other alumni in Pakistan
