ISLAMABAD:Federal Minister for Federal Education and Professional Training Rana Tanveer Hussain on Monday visited the Islamabad International Airport to see off the first batch of Pakistani students going back to China after removal of the 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. He congratulated the students on their return to China to complete their education.

He said 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 Federal Education and Professional Training.

He said Ministry of Education 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 Hajj schedule managed a flight for the Pakistani students.

Rana Tanveer Hussain said that today (Monday) 105 students are returning and soon the rest will also be able to fly back. He acknowledged the efforts of Secretary Education Ms Naheed. S Durani and HEC head Ms Shaista Sohail for their contribution towards resolution of this issue.

He said a round of deliberations were held among all relevant stakeholders including Chinese Embassy, Islamabad Pakistan, Education Ministry, HEC and Foreign Affairs Ministry to address the subject issue of 5,832 students who provided their particulars online to Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

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.

The Minister said that all 105 students have completed the procedural requirements for the ISB-XIY charter flight. He said they will land safely in XIY and resume their studies. He said the issues of Pakistani students are of utmost importance and reiterated his resolve to ensure that the concerns of the Pakistani students will be addressed on priority basis. At the end he congratulated his team for this success and wished the students best of luck for their future endeavours.