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IPDS Partnership Case Studies · No. 7

GIFT University: a university, an industry alliance and a diplomatic network working as one

In 2025 GIFT University in Gujranwala signed a university-wide agreement with the Diplomatic Insight Group, the group to which IPDS belongs, and the Gujranwala Business Alliance. Within a year the partnership had taken the university’s leadership into meetings with ambassadors and opened a centre on its campus.

Signing the agreement between GIFT University, the Diplomatic Insight Group and the Gujranwala Business Alliance, 2025.
Signing the agreement between GIFT University, the Diplomatic Insight Group and the Gujranwala Business Alliance, 2025.
Period2025 to the present
TypeThree-way partnership: university, industry and diplomatic network
RegionPakistan, with partners in Türkiye, Hungary, Thailand and China
StatusActive

01Context

Gujranwala, a city of 2.3 million, is one of Pakistan’s main industrial centres and sits inside the Lahore–Gujranwala–Sialkot industrial triangle. GIFT University, the Gujranwala Institute of Future Technologies, wanted to give its students more than a degree: entrepreneurial skills, ethical leadership and real international exposure.

A university can teach, and an industry body can open factories to students, but neither has a standing channel to embassies and international forums. The Diplomatic Insight Group, which brings together IPDS, The Diplomatic Insight and its other entities, had that channel. The three agreed to work as one partnership, each doing what it does best.

02Partners and roles

GIFT UniversityLeads the design and delivery of academic and community programmes; hosts the BRI Excellence Centre and the Gujranwala Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry on its campus.
Diplomatic Insight Group (IPDS and The Diplomatic Insight)Strategic enabler: links with diplomatic missions, donor agencies and business communities, policy-level engagement, access to multilateral forums, and media coverage.
Gujranwala Business AllianceIndustry alignment: connects the university with industry, supports entrepreneurship and mentoring, and helps turn academic innovation into economic value.
Joint Working GroupRepresentatives of all three institutions; prepares annual work plans and reviews progress twice a year.
Embassies and international partnersThe Embassies of Türkiye, Hungary and Thailand, the Consulate General of China in Lahore, and Tang Chinese International Education and Technology.

03What was done

  1. August 2025

    GIFT University, the Diplomatic Insight Group and the Gujranwala Business Alliance sign a university-wide agreement covering education, diplomacy, trade, socio-economic development and innovation. Source →

  2. October 2025

    IPDS records the partnership in its event archive. Source →

  3. February 2026

    The Ambassador of Thailand, Rongvudhi Virabutr, meets faculty and students at GIFT University on youth, entrepreneurship and the 75th anniversary of Thailand–Pakistan relations. Source →

  4. July 2026

    A delegation arranged by the Diplomatic Insight Group, including GIFT University’s Founder and Chairman, Muhammad Anwar Dar, meets the Ambassador of Türkiye; the Pak–Türkiye Growth Window is launched to link trade with academic cooperation. Source →

  5. July 2026

    The delegation, led by Dr. Farhat Asif, meets the Ambassador of Hungary, Dr. Zoltán Varga, on trade and on academic exchange, including student and faculty mobility. Source →

  6. July 2026

    The delegation meets Tang Chinese International Education and Technology on language and cultural exchange and technology-driven education. Source →

  7. 27 August 2026

    The BRI Excellence Centre opens on the GIFT University campus, with the Consul General of China in Lahore, Sun Yan, as chief guest. Source →

  8. 31 August 2026

    The Consul General visits the Gujranwala Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry at GIFT University; the Chamber is to take part in the Centre’s initiatives. Source →

  9. Planned

    The Centre’s first-year programme: a youth dialogue forum, a business matchmaking summit, an AI and robotics showcase, a green technology demonstration day, a startup pitch day, a student exchange cohort and a research report. Source →

04Outputs

1Three-way agreement with a Joint Working Group, annual work plans and twice-yearly reviews (2025)
3Delegation meetings in Islamabad with international partners, joined by the university’s leadership (July 2026)
1Framework launched with Türkiye: the Pak–Türkiye Growth Window (2026)
1Centre on campus: the BRI Excellence Centre, with six working areas (2026)
7Activities planned for the Centre’s first year

05Results

The university at the table with ambassadors

Within a year of signing, GIFT University’s Founder and Chairman was meeting the Ambassadors of Türkiye and Hungary in Islamabad, alongside industry leaders from Gujranwala.

Evidence →

From agreement to a centre in twelve months

The agreement signed in August 2025 led to a centre on the campus in August 2026, covering trade and investment, language and culture, AI and digital innovation, green technology, research and policy, and startups.

Evidence →

Women entrepreneurs included from the start

The Gujranwala Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry, based at GIFT University, is to be part of the Centre’s initiatives.

Evidence →

Recognised by the university

At the Centre’s opening, GIFT University’s Chairman credited the partnership with helping the university give students more than an education: the chance to set up their own businesses.

Evidence →

06How the partnership works

Three partners, three roles

The university leads the programmes, the diplomatic network opens doors abroad, and the industry alliance turns ideas into economic value. The agreement writes these roles down.

Measure from the start

A Joint Working Group with annual work plans and twice-yearly reviews against indicators such as international placements, policy outcomes, media coverage and community engagement.

Take the university to the embassies

Delegations pair academic and business leaders in the same meeting, so each conversation with a mission covers both trade and education.

07Evidence and citation

  1. DIG, GIFT University partner to drive innovation and global outreach (The Diplomatic Insight, August 2025)
  2. Strategic partnership: GIFT University, DIG and GBA (IPDS)
  3. Thai Ambassador highlights youth empowerment at GIFT University (The Diplomatic Insight, February 2026)
  4. Pakistan, Türkiye explore deeper trade and academic ties (The Diplomatic Insight, July 2026)
  5. Delegation meets Hungary’s Ambassador (The Diplomatic Insight, July 2026)
  6. Delegation meets Tang Chinese Education and Technology (The Diplomatic Insight, July 2026)
  7. BRI Excellence Centre launched (The Diplomatic Insight, August 2026)
  8. Gujranwala women entrepreneurs meet the Consul General of China (The Diplomatic Insight, August 2026)

The agreement was signed by the Diplomatic Insight Group, the group to which IPDS belongs, and IPDS recorded it in its event archive. This case covers the partnership’s first year. The Joint Working Group’s reviews have not been published, so results are limited to what has been reported, and the Centre’s first-year activities are listed as plans.

Cite this case studyInstitute of Peace and Diplomatic Studies (2026). GIFT University: a university, an industry alliance and a diplomatic network working as one. IPDS Partnership Case Studies, No. 7. Islamabad: IPDS. https://ipd.org.pk/about-us/partners/case-studies/gift-university/ (last reviewed October 2026).
Riphah International University: another university partnership →Media and outreach partnerships →
← Case study No. 6Riphah International University: five years of joint programmesCase study No. 1 →The United Nations: an agreement that reached students

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Last reviewed October 2026. Partners named in a case study can ask for corrections at info@ipd.org.pk.

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