Afghan students asked to work for development of their country

ISLAMABAD: Federal Education Minister Madad Ali Sindhi urged students from Afghanistan to work for the development of their country after completing their education in Pakistan.

He stated this at a function held to launch the phase three of Allama Iqbal Scholarship Program for Afghan students studying in different Higher educational institutions of Pakistan.

Under the new phase, 4500 scholarships will be granted to the Afghan students by Higher Education Commission (HEC). 

These students graduated from 25 universities across Pakistan and received their Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in various disciplines, including medicine, engineering, agriculture, management and computer science. As many as 6,000 Afghan students were awarded scholarships during the first two phases.

The caretaker minister urged the students to “identify challenges facing Afghanistan and utilise their intellectual capabilities to seek solutions”.

Mr Sindhi emphasized the vital need for capacity building of Afghan students and faculty. He also acknowledged the crucial role of HEC in the provision of higher education opportunities for Afghan students via scholarships in Pakistan.

HEC Chairman Dr Mukhtar Ahmed appreciated the Afghan students who secured first positions in their respective degree programmes and acknowledged all the students for standing strong against numerous challenges as well.

He stressed that the knowledge and expertise these individuals acquired “will not only enlighten their families but will also foster informed decision-making in their professional and personal lives”. 

He concluded by emphasizing the “symbiotic relationship between Pakistan and Afghanistan, underscoring the cherished bond that exists between the two countries and the positive impact it will have on their shared future”.