by Mia Shah

BEIJING, Oct. 21 (Gwadar Pro) - In a significant move to enhance infrastructure resilience against natural disasters, China and Pakistan have officially established five new joint research sub-centers across Pakistan. This expansion is a key outcome of the recent high-level visit by the China-Pakistan Belt and Road Joint Laboratory on Smart Disaster Prevention of Major Infrastructures.

The Chinese delegation of the Joint Lab visits MoST, Pakistan (Photo provided by Southeast University)

The week-long visit, concluding on October 9, 2025, focused on operationalizing sub-centers at Pakistan's leading engineering universities: the National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore (UET, Lahore), NED University of Engineering and Technology, Karachi (NEDUET, Karachi), Balochistan University of Information Technology, Engineering and Management Sciences, Quetta (BUITEMS, Quetta), and University of Engineering and Technology, Peshawar (UET, Peshawar).

The Chinese delegation of the Joint Lab held talks with officials from MoST Pakistan and exchanged souvenir (Photo provided by Southeast University)

These hubs will serve as regional nerve centers for collaborative research, technology development, and talent cultivation in critical areas such as earthquake engineering, flood control, structural health monitoring, and climate-resilient infrastructure.

The five sub-centers of the Joint Lab will play a significant role in enhancing the disaster resilience of Pakistan's infrastructure through scientific and technological approaches. Both parties will undertake initiatives for joint disaster prevention capacity building, academic research, and exchange programs for students and experts.

The Chinese delegation of the Joint Lab held talks with officials from NDMA and exchanged souvenir (Photo provided by Southeast University)

The seven-person delegation, led by Professor Chen Zhongfan from Southeast University, who also serves as the Executive Deputy Director of the Joint Lab, engaged with senior Pakistani officials, including Shahid Iqbal Baloch, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Science and Technology, and Inam Haider Malik, Chairman of the National Disaster Management Authority. Both parties pledged strong support for the lab's mission, emphasizing its role in safeguarding the strategic China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and other vital infrastructure.

Unveiling ceremony of the Joint Lab-NUST Sub Center (Photo provided by Southeast University)

Unveiling ceremony of the Joint Lab-UET Peshawar Sub Center (Photo provided by Southeast University)

Key moments of the visit included the unveiling ceremonies of the sub-centers at NUST and UET Peshawar. The latter was held during the 3rd International Conference on Climate Resilience Infrastructure and Disaster Management, where Chinese and Pakistani researchers shared the latest advancements in the field.

The joint laboratory, approved by China's Ministry of Science and Technology, is a flagship initiative under the Belt and Road Innovation Cooperation framework. Its expansion underscores a shared commitment to transforming scientific collaboration into tangible benefits, enhancing regional disaster preparedness and promoting sustainable development.