Pakistani Education Minister thanks China after students’ return

Islamabad: Minister for Federal Education and Professional Training Rana Tanveer Hussain has thanked China for accepting the Pakistani students back in the educational institutions after a gap due to Covid pandemic.

The minister visited the Islamabad Airport to see off the first batch of Pakistani students going back to China after the imposition of travel restrictions due to Covid -19.

The Federal Minister along with senior officials of the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training and Higher Education Commission (HEC) met with the students going to China. Federal Minister congratulated the students on their return to China to complete their education. “I am also thankful to the Chinese government for facilitating this huge step,” he added.

Hussain remarked that “it is our national duty to facilitate the youth in their pursuit of knowledge.”

He acknowledged that the students have been facing difficulties for two years and had contacted HEC, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Ministry of Professional and Technical Training (FE&PT).

He appreciated that the Ministry of FE&PT took lead in this matter and approached the relevant Chinese authorities, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) and Civil Aviation Authority to resolve this matter on urgent basis.

He praised PIA that despite busy Haj (pilgrimage) schedule they managed a flight for the Pakistani students.

Hussian mentioned that today 105 students were returning and soon the rest will also be able to fly back.

The Federal Minister informed that a round of deliberations were held between all relevant stakeholders including Chinese Embassy, Islamabad Pakistan and the Pakistani re3levant ministries to address the subject issue of 5,832 students who provided their particulars online to Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Islamabad (MoFA).

“Three phases for completion were decided according to the following plan: • Priority-I, 492 students who were due to complete their degree programs in 2019-20 and 2020-21. • Priority-II, 1,529 students who were to complete their degrees in 2022. • Priority-III, 3,196 remaining students due to complete their degrees in 2023 onwards,” he shared. The Federal Minister underlined that all 105 students have completed the procedural requirements for the ISB-XIY charter flight.

Hussain said that the issues of Pakistani students were of utmost importance and reiterated his resolve to ensure that the concerns of the Pakistani students will be addressed on priority basis.