Partnerships & Collaborations

United Nations Information Centre (UNIC), Islamabad

Islamabad, Pakistan

IPDS partners with the United Nations Information Centre in Islamabad to co-host public diplomacy events such as the UN Speakers’ Corner, bringing heads of UN agencies together with students and the public.

Institute for Economic Strategies (IES), Russia

Moscow, Russia

A Moscow-based research institute. The 2013 MoU covers joint research, publishing, and educational programmes in strategic and innovative development, including collaboration between the two organisations’ journals.

National University of Modern Languages (NUML), Islamabad

Islamabad, Pakistan

MoU signed in 2016 to collaborate on peace, conflict studies, and international relations, signed by IPDS President Farhat Asif and NUML Rector Maj. Gen. Zia Uddin Najam.

Bahria University, Islamabad

Islamabad, Pakistan

MoU signed in 2018 to strengthen academic collaboration, joint research, and knowledge exchange in peace, diplomacy, and development studies.

Center for Conflict Prevention and Early Warning, Bucharest, Romania

Bucharest, Romania

A Bucharest-based research centre. The 2013 MoU covers exchange of publications and researchers, and joint conferences on conflict prevention and early warning.

University of Sargodha

Sargodha, Pakistan

Strategic partnership entered into in 2022, covering joint academic and research initiatives.

Riphah International University — Riphah Institute of Public Policy, Islamabad

Islamabad, Pakistan

MoU signed in 2020 to foster academic and research collaboration, signed by IPDS President Farhat Asif and Riphah Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Anis Ahmad Khan.

University of Peshawar

Peshawar, Pakistan

IPDS’s Centre for BRI and China Studies and the University of Peshawar’s China Studies Centre signed an MoU in 2020 for joint research on the Belt and Road Initiative and China studies.

Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Women University, Peshawar

Peshawar, Pakistan

MoU signed in 2020 with the premier women’s university in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Rawalpindi Women University, Rawalpindi

Rawalpindi, Pakistan

MoU signed in 2022 covering research, knowledge-sharing, and capacity-building in international relations, diplomatic studies, and women’s peace and leadership.

Good Neighborliness, Friendship and Cooperation Commission of the SCO, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, China

China

Cooperation agreement signed in 2021 with the SCO’s Good-Neighborliness, Friendship and Cooperation Commission, under China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, at a forum co-organised with the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries and the Hubei Provincial People’s Government.

Inter University Consortium for Promotion of Social Sciences, Humanities and Arts (IUCPSS) — Alliance of 60 Universities

Islamabad, Pakistan

MoU signed in 2014 with this nationwide, 60-university consortium to promote collaboration in social sciences, humanities, and the arts.

Institute of Philosophy and Sociology, Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences, Baku

Baku, Azerbaijan

MoU signed in 2021 for research and scientific cooperation with the Institute of Philosophy and Sociology at the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences.

Inner Mongolia Honder College of Arts and Sciences, China

Inner Mongolia, China

MoU signed in 2021 with this college’s Pakistan Research Center to promote academic exchange and strengthen the Friends of the Belt and Road Initiative Forum.

The Millennium Universal College (TMUC), Islamabad

Islamabad, Pakistan

MoU signed in 2021 covering research, training, and internships, including support for the International Young Diplomats School.

Ankara Center for Crisis and Policy Studies (ANKASAM), Turkey

Ankara, Turkey

MoU signed in 2021 with this Ankara-based think tank, founded in 2017, to collaborate on research and policy analysis.

Commission on Science and Technology for Sustainable Development in the South (COMSATS)

Islamabad, Pakistan

MoU signed in 2023 between IPDS’s Centre for BRI and China Studies and COMSATS University’s China Study Centre, covering joint research, publications, and scholar exchange.

SCO Centre for Public Diplomacy, Uzbekistan

Tashkent, Uzbekistan

Agreement of cooperation signed in 2021 with this Tashkent-based centre, established by presidential decree, to strengthen civil-society linkages among SCO member states through public diplomacy.

SDGs Academy, Islamabad

Islamabad, Pakistan

Agreement signed in 2021 to advance research, education, and advocacy on the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Argentine Center of International Studies (CAEI), Argentina

Buenos Aires, Argentina

MoU signed in 2013 with this Buenos Aires-based non-profit think tank, founded in 2005, focused on international studies.

International Institute of Central Asia (IICA)

Tashkent, Uzbekistan

A regional research institute supporting cooperation among Central Asian states; institutional research partner of IPDS.

Academy of Contemporary China and World Studies (ACCWS)

Beijing, China

A state-level Chinese think tank under the China International Communications Group, focused on international communication and China–world studies. Co-organised the China–Pakistan Think Tank Dialogue 2025 with IPDS.

CIRPS

Rome, Italy

An interuniversity research centre for sustainable development, hosted at Sapienza University of Rome.

International Presidential School, Dushanbe, Tajikistan

Dushanbe, Tajikistan

An educational institution in Dushanbe; institutional partner of IPDS.

International University for Humanities and Development (IUHD), Ashgabat, Turkmenistan

Ashgabat, Turkmenistan

Signed at the Prime Minister’s House in Islamabad in March 2016 — one of two Turkmenistan agreements IPDS signed that day as Pakistan and Turkmenistan concluded eight state-level accords, witnessed by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Turkmenistan President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov. Signed for IUHD by Rector Esen Aydogdiev.

Institute of International Relations, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Turkmenistan (IIT)

Ashgabat, Turkmenistan

Signed alongside the IUHD agreement at the same March 2016 ceremony at the Prime Minister’s House, part of the state-level cooperation programme witnessed by both countries’ leaders. Signed for IIT by Rector Baba Zahyrov.

Centre for Global Innovation, Islamabad

Islamabad, Pakistan

An Islamabad-based innovation and knowledge-economy partner.

Equilibrium Global, Communications Agency, Argentina

Argentina

A communications agency based in Argentina.

Istanbul Okan Üniversitesi, Istanbul, Turkey

Istanbul, Turkey

Agreement of cooperation signed in 2021 for academic exchange and joint programmes, signed by IPDS Founder President Farhat Asif and Okan Vice-Rector Prof. Dr. Güner Gürsoy.

University of Khairpur, Sindh

Khairpur, Pakistan

A public-sector university in Sindh province.

Balochistan University of Information Technology, Engineering and Management Sciences

Quetta, Pakistan

MoU signed in 2026 to link Islamabad-based diplomatic and research networks with Balochistan’s academic and CPEC-focused expertise, covering joint research, training, and policy dialogue.

Kinnaird College for Women, Lahore

Lahore, Pakistan

MoU signed in 2019 with Pakistan’s premier women’s college, founded in 1913, signed by IPDS Founder President Farhat Asif and Principal Rukhsana David.

Association of Russian Diplomats, Moscow

Moscow, Russia

MoU signed in 2021 with this nationwide association of Russian diplomatic service officers, established in 1990, covering joint events, publications, and academic exchange.

University of Sialkot (USKT)

Sialkot, Pakistan

MoU signed in 2022 covering knowledge-sharing, research, and capacity-building in social sciences, international relations, media, and law.

Mother of Hope Cameroon (MOHCAM), Bamenda

Bamenda, Cameroon

A women- and youth-rights organisation with UN ECOSOC special consultative status, working against human trafficking, child marriage, and gender-based violence.

Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan

Multan, Pakistan

One of Punjab’s largest public universities, and a pilot site — alongside Shaheed Benazir Bhutto University Nawabshah — for IPDS’s Chinese-language training initiative with Viivbook.

Country Chapter Coordinator, UN Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC)

Islamabad, Pakistan

IPDS coordinates Pakistan’s civil-society engagement with the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations.

GIFT University, Gujranwala

Gujranwala, Pakistan

MoU signed in October 2025 to launch joint initiatives in education, diplomacy, trade, and innovation, with strategic support from the Gujranwala Business Alliance.

University of Rasul, Mandi Bahauddin (formerly Punjab University of Technology, Rasul)

Mandi Bahauddin, Pakistan

MoU signed in 2021 to build graduate capacity for CPEC-related projects and a Chinese-language initiative. The university — then Punjab University of Technology, Rasul — was renamed University of Rasul in 2025.

Viivbook (Tianjin Hantong Educational Technology Co., Ltd), China

Tianjin, China

MoU signed in 2021 with this Chinese education-technology company to offer free Chinese-language training, piloted at Bahauddin Zakariya University and Shaheed Benazir Bhutto University Nawabshah.

Obortunity

Pakistan

Cooperation agreement signed in 2018 to promote awareness of CPEC and the Belt and Road Initiative across Pakistan.

Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Lahore Division

Lahore, Pakistan

MoU signed in 2020 to promote regional and global outreach, networks, and opportunities for women entrepreneurs from Pakistan.

International Centre for Scientific Collaborations

Partnership agreement signed in 2022 to forge cooperation in scientific research.