ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: In a significant step towards advancing education and skill development in the fields of design, the Pakistan Institute of Fashion & Design (PIFD) and the National Book Foundation (NBF) have signed a Letter of Understanding (LOU) to establish a new PIFD Campus in Karachi.
The agreement was formalized in a ceremony held in the Committee Room of the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training (M/o FE&PT) in Islamabad.
The signing ceremony was attended by the Minister for Federal Education and Professional Training Dr. Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, Member of National Assembly Javed Hanif Khan, Federal Secretary (Education) Mohyuddin Ahmad Wani, Director General NCHD Mirza Nasir-ud-Din Mashood Ahmad, Additional Secretary Hassan Saqlain, Sr. Joint Secretary Professor Syed Junaid Akhlaq, Vice Chancellor PIFD Hina Tayyaba Khalil, Registrar PIFD Dr. Muhammad Afzal, Secretary NBF Murad Ali Mohmand, Director to Minister Adnan Khan, and PSO to Secretary Education Engr Faisal Shoiab.
Under the new agreement, PIFD will operate its new Campus on the 2nd floor of the National Book Foundation’s Braille Complex Building near the PTV Station in Karachi.
The PIFD Campus will initially offer a range of Short Training Courses as Diplomas and Certificate Courses in Fashion Design, Textile Design, Jewellery Design, and Visual Arts.
The new Campus aims to provide state-of-the-art training facilities to equip students with the skills necessary for careers in design and visual arts.
The initiative is designed to enhance employability by bridging the skills gap and aligning educational programs with contemporary industry needs.
The PIFD Campus will also reserve a two percent quota for partially blind students in collaboration with the Pakistan Association for the Blind (PAB).
The federal government and industry partners will collaborate to support the campus with necessary resources, equipment, and financial sponsorships.
The Minister for Federal Education and Professional Training Dr. Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui expressed his appreciation for PIFD’s efforts and assured the Ministry’s support in realizing the objectives of the new campus.
The Vice Chancellor of PIFD Professor Ms. Hina Tayyaba Khalil highlighted the importance of this expansion in Karachi and outlined future plans for the campus’s growth and development.
The new PIFD Campus is expected to start operations in September 2024.