Pakistani youth in Hunan: marveling and envious of the rapid changes in China

　　China News Service, Zhuzhou, June 5, title: Pakistani youth in Hunan: marveling and envious of the rapid changes in China

　　Author Liu Man

　　With thick eyebrows, big eyes, and high nose, among a group of Chinese employees, Rafik Khan from Pakistan made a special eye, but his fluent Mandarin and the occasional Hunan dialect made him work in CRRC Zhuzhou Electric Locomotive Co., Ltd. (abbreviated as "CRRC Zhuji") Urban Rail Business Unit is doing a good job.

Rafik Khan, a young Pakistani man.

Photo by Liu Man

　　It is the daily work of electrical engineer Rafik Khan to arrange the locomotive parts according to the design drawings, guide the installation of the workshop workers, and finally assist in the realization of the vehicle landing.

"It seems to be doing repetitive work day after day, but you can never guess what will appear on tomorrow's design drawings. The technology update iterations here are too fast." He bluntly likes this "stimulation", "this is also The unique charm of the city where I am known as the "Capital of Electric Locomotives in China".

Rafik Khan and his colleagues work in the assembly workshop of CRRC Zhuji Urban Rail Division.

Photo by Liu Man

　　Rafik Khan was born in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan in 1989.

When he was young, he knew that Pakistan and China had friendly relations, and he especially liked watching Bruce Lee movies.

When the brothers and sisters in the family chose to study in France, Italy and other European and American countries, Rafik Khan decided to take a look at China.

　　From 2010 to 2017, Rafik Khan studied undergraduate and postgraduate at Northwestern Polytechnical University and Xi'an Jiaotong University in China, both majoring in electrical engineering.

During this period, he participated in the "Belt and Road" initiative training class organized by the school.

Rafik Khan communicates with colleagues.

Photo by Liu Man

　　"The training course is for us to better understand the construction of the'Belt and Road'. Since then, I know that the construction of the'Belt and Road' can benefit developing countries along the route such as Asia and Africa." At that time, Rafik Khan was born in his heart. The idea of ​​participating in it.

　　When the graduate school was about to graduate, Rafik Khan participated in campus recruitment like many Chinese students, and successfully passed the interviews with companies such as ZTE and Huawei.

But when Rafik Khan saw the recruitment booth of CRRC Zhuji, he gave up the job opportunities in other first-tier cities and firmly chose to come to the central city of Zhuzhou, Hunan.

"Pakistan's transportation infrastructure is relatively backward. The advanced rail transit technology and improved management system here are exactly what we need."

The assembly workshop of CRRC Zhuji Urban Rail Division.

Photo courtesy of CRRC

　　Magnetic levitation, super capacitors, IGBT chips... Zhuzhou is the birthplace of many "first" records such as "China's first AC drive electric locomotive", "world's most powerful electric locomotive", and has frequently launched world-class innovations.

Since its establishment in 1936, CRRC Zhuji has experienced four historical leaps in the production of Chinese locomotives from general load to heavy load, from normal speed to high speed, from DC to AC, and from import to export. History of development".

　　Rafik Khan worked hard to overcome discomfort in language and diet and quickly integrated into the new environment. He almost stayed in the dormitory to study after get off work. The company's paper on rail transit technology was a "frequent visitor" on his desk.

From the initial strenuous telephone communication to the independent and efficient completion of the work, to ensuring that the new equipment meets the production and process requirements, the diligent Rafik Khan has made rapid progress in both language and professional skills.

Rafik Khan (second from left in the back row) participates in the company's Qingwei studio interactive activities.

Photo courtesy of the interviewee

　　In October 2020, the first rail transit project of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor under the framework of the "One Belt and One Road" initiative, the Lahore Rail Transit Orange Line in Pakistan, was officially opened for operation.

This project realizes the complete output of the entire industrial chain from design, manufacturing, construction to operation and maintenance of urban subways in China for the first time.

　　"The Lahore Orange Line subway train is from our company. It plays a huge role in the field of urban traffic and transportation. Many people can benefit from it. The construction of the'Belt and Road' helped Pakistan to bid farewell to the history of no subway." Khan said that China has become a powerful force in the global rail transit industry and has shared high-quality results with the world through the “Belt and Road” construction.

　　At present, the electric locomotives, intercity EMUs, urban rail vehicles and rail transit equipment derivative products produced by CRRC have been exported to more than 20 countries and regions including Turkey, Malaysia and Mexico.

　　Over the years, Rafik Khan has participated in many projects such as Nanning Metro Line 3 and Kunming Changshui Tram.

From the rapid development of technology in the rail transit industry, he personally experienced the rapid changes in China's economy and society. This unimaginable speed of development made him both amazed and envied.

"When I first came to China, many cities did not have subways. Now subways and high-speed rails have become the most common and fast way for everyone to travel. 5G and other technologies are also developing at an ultra-fast speed in China, and are integrated with rail transit and other industries to continuously promote the industry. Innovation."

　　Joking with local employees in dialects, witnessing the continuous innovation and iteration of CRRC Zhuji's products to the world, and the unforgettable experience of fighting the epidemic together... Rafik Khan has now fallen in love with Hunan and Hunan cuisine. "My growth is inseparable from China. The construction of the'Belt and Road' has brought many opportunities for me and my country. More and more young Pakistani people choose to start their own businesses in China." In the future, he hopes to participate more in the company and Pakistan’s cooperation projects help the country’s rail transit industry to achieve faster development. (Finish)