Islamabad, June 27, 2026: President of the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI), Sardar Tahir Mehmood, has stressed that equipping teachers with modern teaching methodologies is essential for building Pakistan’s future, describing educators as the architects of future generations.
Addressing the concluding session of a Teachers’ Training Workshop on “21st Century Teaching Skills,” organised by ICCI in collaboration with the SOS Foundation and EduTransform, Tahir Mehmood said the age of artificial intelligence, digital transformation and global connectivity requires an education system aligned with emerging global trends.
He said economic development and educational excellence are closely linked, adding that ICCI has expanded its role beyond business advocacy by promoting education, youth development, innovation, entrepreneurship, technology and stronger academia-industry collaboration. He noted that the Chamber’s growing partnerships with China, Africa and the Middle East, alongside its emphasis on skills development and the digital economy, reflect its commitment to fostering a knowledge-based and prosperous Pakistan.
Pakistan’s High Commissioner to Rwanda, Naeem Khan, called for a shift from rote learning to creative, practical and research-oriented education. He urged teachers to encourage students to think critically, undertake original research and develop effective communication skills.
Drawing on his international academic experience, the High Commissioner highlighted the effectiveness of direct teaching methods and invited Pakistani universities to strengthen academic cooperation with Rwanda through student and faculty exchange programmes. He also proposed a Public-Private Academic Partnership (PPAP) model to enhance collaboration among academia, government and industry in the fields of innovation, entrepreneurship and research commercialisation.
Earlier, Dr. Abdus Salam, Convener of the ICCI Standing Committee on Education and Chief Executive Officer of the SOS Foundation, said the workshop was designed to equip educators with modern pedagogical skills needed for 21st-century classrooms. He said ICCI and the SOS Foundation would continue organising similar capacity-building programmes for teachers in the future.
Dr. Aneela Malik, Chief Executive Officer of EduTransform and Vice Chairperson of the ICCI Standing Committee on Education, shared practical insights into innovative teaching strategies and educational leadership.
Participants from both public and private educational institutions appreciated ICCI, the SOS Foundation and EduTransform for organising the workshop and reaffirmed their commitment to promoting excellence in education through stronger collaboration between academia and industry.
ICCI Vice President Irfan Chaudhry, Executive Members Waseem Chaudhry, Zulqurnain Abbasi and Imran Minhas, along with a large number of ICCI members, also attended the concluding session.
