BBS-UTECH Makes History as Sindh's Sole Representative in National Technology University Consortium

The Benazir Bhutto Shaheed University of Technology and Skill Development (BBS-UTECH), Khairpur, distinguished itself as the only technology university from Sindh selected to join this prestigious national consortium. This recognition underscores the University's growing stature as a center of excellence in engineering, technology, innovation, and skills development. BBS-UTECH's inclusion reflects national confidence in the University's academic leadership and its expanding contributions to technological advancement and human capital development.

During the inaugural session, the HEC formally operationalized the Consortium following approval of its establishment at the Commission's 46th meeting. The Consortium will be guided by a Steering Committee, led by Lt. Gen. Moazzam Ejaz, HI(M) (Retd.), Rector, National University of Technology (NUTECH), with a mission to transform engineering and technology education through collaborative excellence.

Representing BBS-UTECH, Dr. Rasool Bux Mahar joined fellow Vice Chancellors and Rectors to endorse the Consortium's ambitious 2026–2030 Strategic Roadmap, which outlines a comprehensive agenda for institutional transformation. The roadmap focuses on strengthening collaborative research, faculty and student exchanges, innovation commercialization, international partnerships, quality assurance, digital transformation, and evidence-based institutional performance monitoring initiatives designed to enhance Pakistan's global competitiveness in science, technology, and engineering education.

Speaking at the session, Lt. Gen. Moazzam Ejaz emphasized the need for sustained collaboration among technology universities to advance research, innovation, entrepreneurship, and industry engagement. Dr. Noor Amna Malik described the Consortium as a transformative national platform that will accelerate institutional development through shared expertise, collective learning, and strategic partnerships.

Prof. Dr. Muhammad Mukhtar, Rector of the University of Southern Punjab, Multan, Pakistan and Founding Vice Chancellor of National Skills University Islamabad, commented on the initiative's significance, congratulating Lt. Gen. Moazzam Ejaz, HI(M) (Retd.); Prof. (Meritorious) Dr. Rasool Bux Mahar; all member universities of the P-8; and the Higher Education Commission on joining the prestigious Consortium. He described the move as a visionary step toward strengthening Pakistan's engineering and technology universities through collaboration and innovation. He noted that the Consortium would have been even more comprehensive if National Skills University Islamabad (NSU), Pakistan's only UNESCO-UNEVOC Center University and an internationally recognized Center of Vocational Excellence (CoVE), had been included, given NSU's pioneering contributions to technical, vocational, and skills education. Prof. Mukhtar further expressed hope that the Consortium would, in the future, embrace broader participation by ensuring representation from every province and region of Pakistan, making it a truly national platform that harnesses the country's diverse institutional strengths to advance engineering, technology, and skills education for sustainable national development.