LAHORE: A strong linkage between the industrial sector and academia is the most important tool to tackle the key economic challenges of Pakistan. It would also help invent new business models that are rapidly gaining the grounds all over the world. This was the crux of the speeches delivered by experts from industry and academia while speaking at a brainstorming session titled ‘Strengthening of Academia and Industry Linkage’ here at the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI). Higher Education Commission (HEC) Executive Director Dr Arshad Ali, LCCI President Abdul Basit, Senior Vice President Amjad Ali Jawa, former president Sohail Lashari, Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC) Chairman Javed Saleem Qureshi, Ibrar Ahmed, Khamis Saeed Butt, LCCI Standing Committee on Industry-Academia Linkage Convener Umer Saleem, vice chancellors and representatives of 15 universities spoke on the occasion. Dr Arshad Ali called for a strategy that how knowledge and research of academia could be beneficial for the industry. He said that action plan should be defined in this regard. He said when the HEC was established in 2002, there were 67 universities in the country with 0.7 million students. “However, there are 183 universities educating around three million students.” He said that the HEC was well aware of the weak linkages between academia and the industry, and was fully committed to facilitating the universities and the industry. “It would bridge this gap and explore all potential areas that would harness economic development and prosperity for the future generation of the country,” he said. He assured his full cooperation to the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry in this regard. In his remarks, LCCI President Abdul Basit said that understanding between industrial and education sectors should be developed on sustainable basis. He said that the LCCI had declared the year 2017 the year of industry-academia linkage. “The objective of this initiative is to gain direct benefits from research work of the universities,” he said, adding that it would reduce the cost of doing business, enhance employment opportunities and competitiveness of the industrial sectors. Emphasising the need of demand-driven research work, Abdul Basit said it would be beneficial for both researchers and industry. He said that researchers would be able to sale their research work to the industry that would increase the industrial production. LCCI Senior Vice President Amjad Ali Jawa told the participants that the LCCI had formed a standing committee on industry-academia linkages to strengthen the liaison between industry, universities and colleges. He said that strong linkages would also resolve the issue of brain drain. Former LCCI president Sohail Lashari said that education sector needed to understand the industry’s demand for skilled human resources, and it was possible only through strong relations between industry and academia. He said that academia should develop projects beneficial for the industry. LCCI Standing Committee on Industry-Academia Linkages Convener Umer Saleem threw light on the aims and objectives of the committee. He said that visits of the different universities were being conducted, and soon a conference would also be organised. Pakistan Engineering Council Chairman Javed Saleem Qureshi called for further homework and underlined the need to give representation of the industry in research centres. “Reverse engineering has become a key to success, as it helps extract knowledge and make it possible to reproduce any product,” he concluded.