Pakistan’s investment council seeks to expand international higher education partnerships
By The South Asia Times
ISLAMABAD - Pakistan’s Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) is seeking to attract greater international investment in higher education, with education group TMUC highlighting the council’s role in facilitating cross-border academic partnerships.
Dr. Faisal Mushtaq, founder and chief executive of The Millennium Education Group and The Millennium Universal College (TMUC), praised the SIFC as a platform for connecting international institutions with opportunities in Pakistan’s education sector following a visit to its secretariat in Islamabad.
“If you have a dream, your project, or your inspiration, the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) is Pakistan’s ultimate one-stop shop,” Mushtaq said, according to a statement issued after the visit.
He was accompanied by senior academic representatives from two British partner institutions, the University of Hertfordshire and the University for the Creative Arts (UCA).
The visit coincided with the 10th anniversary of transnational higher education partnerships between TMUC and its UK counterparts, which involve cooperation in delivering international academic programmes in Pakistan.
Mushtaq said the SIFC’s single-window framework could help international investors and educational institutions navigate administrative processes and establish partnerships in Pakistan.
The visiting British academic representatives also praised the council’s role in facilitating institutional cooperation, according to the statement.
The discussions highlighted potential opportunities for expanding international degree programmes, joint research initiatives and cross-border student mobility.
Established to facilitate investment and coordinate government support for investors, the SIFC provides a platform for engagement with relevant public-sector institutions. Its role in higher education could help Pakistan attract foreign academic partnerships and broaden access to internationally recognised qualifications.
