Joint Initiative of Diplomatic Insight Group, GIFT University and Gujranwala Business Alliance
Gujranwala (National Times) The BRI Excellence Centre (BEC) was inaugurated at GIFT University Gujranwala on Thursday as a joint initiative of the Diplomatic Insight Group (DIG), GIFT University, and the Gujranwala Business Alliance (GBA), marking a new chapter in Pakistan-China cooperation focused on academia, industry, technology and diplomacy.
The inauguration ceremony was graced by H.E. Mr. Sun Yan, Consul General of China in Lahore, as the chief guest. He was accompanied by Dr. Farhat Asif, Chairperson of Diplomatic Insight Group; Muhammad Anwar Dar, Chairman of GIFT University; and Ahmad Ikram Lone, Founder and Chairman of the Gujranwala Business Alliance.
The BRI Excellence Centre aims to translate the broader vision of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) into practical, local-level cooperation by connecting academia, industry and diplomatic stakeholders in Gujranwala, one of Pakistan’s major industrial and export hubs.
The inauguration comes as Pakistan and China mark the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations and follows the January 2026 agreement to advance an upgraded CPEC 2.0, with greater emphasis on industry, agriculture and mining—sectors closely linked to Gujranwala’s economic landscape.
Addressing the ceremony, Consul General Sun Yan described the Centre as a timely and significant initiative coinciding with the 75th anniversary of Pakistan-China diplomatic relations. He said the BRI Excellence Centre would contribute to bringing the two countries closer through enhanced academic, business and industrial exchanges.
Dr. Farhat Asif said the Centre was envisioned as a practical platform connecting Pakistani businesses with Chinese markets, students with opportunities to learn Mandarin and develop a deeper understanding of contemporary China, and startups with technology and investment opportunities.
“We want this Centre to become a platform where Pakistani businesses can explore Chinese markets, where students can learn Mandarin and understand contemporary China, where startups can connect with technology and investment, and where Chinese institutions can find credible partners in Pakistan’s industrial heartland,” Dr. Asif said.
The Centre will operate across six specialized domains under one roof: the BRI Trade and Investment Centre; Chinese Language and Cultural Centre; AI and Digital Innovation Centre; EV and Green Technology Centre; BRI Research and Policy Institute; and Entrepreneurship and Startup Centre.
Muhammad Anwar Dar, Chairman of GIFT University, acknowledged the role of the Diplomatic Insight Group in helping materialize the University’s vision of providing students with opportunities beyond conventional education, including support to develop entrepreneurial ventures and establish their own businesses.
Gujranwala is a major contributor to Pakistan’s manufacturing and export economy, with the city accounting for a significant share of the country’s surgical instruments and cutlery exports. Its strategic location along the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor further enhances its potential as a platform for Pakistan-China industrial and commercial cooperation.
Speaking at the inauguration, Ahmad Ikram Lone, Chairman of the Gujranwala Business Alliance, said the occasion represented more than the opening of an institution.
“Today we are not simply inaugurating a Centre, we are opening a new chapter of cooperation and activity, and shared opportunity between Pakistan and China,” he said.
Lone described the BRI Excellence Centre as a “first-of-its-kind in the region,” built around four key areas—trade, technology, education and culture.
The establishment of the Centre is expected to provide a structured platform for strengthening business-to-business engagement, academic exchanges, technology collaboration, cultural understanding and policy research between Pakistan and China, while creating new opportunities for Gujranwala’s industrial and entrepreneurial community.
