- China awards scholarships to 220 Pakistani students
Chinese Ambassador Sun Weidong on Tuesday said that the China-Pakistan relations have entered into a new stage of “grand development” as China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) has brought brilliant job and education opportunities for Pakistani youth.
He added that talented teenagers are immensely transforming their lives under the multibillion dollar project.
The ambassador made these remarks during a scholarship award ceremony held for 220 Pakistani students for the year 2016-17. Federal secretary, inter-provincial coordination (IPC) ministry, Raja Nadir Ali, Madame Bao Jiqing and other officials were also present on the occasion.
Out of the total, 131 students got scholarship certificates from all over Pakistan while rest of the students are already studying in China. This makes Pakistan the biggest scholarship winning country by the Chinese government in South Asia.
“With the implementation of projects under CPEC, more and more job opportunities are being created, not just labourers, but also for talented professionals. For example, just a few days ago, Port Qasim Coal Fire Power Project recruited hundreds of engineers who would be sent to China for training,” said the envoy.
“Having been educated in China, and familiar with Chinese technologies and standards, you would have a great competitive edge when facing this kind of opportunity in the coming days. I believe all of you will have a bright future in this regard,” the envoy added.
He said after the successful state visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping to Pakistan in April 2015, China and Pakistan are working together for enhancing political mutual trust, expanding economic and trade cooperation and deepening cultural and education exchanges.
“I would like to congratulate the winners for the Chinese government scholarship for 2016/2017 academic year. This year, China Scholarship Council has awarded Chinese government scholarship to 131 new Pakistani students, of whom 107 are recommended by the Ministry of Inter-provincial Coordination of Pakistan. We thank the IPC Ministry in this regard,” he added.
Weidong said the Chinese Government Scholarship Programme is a government-to-government undertaking, and thus it is aimed at benefiting all the regions and the students of Pakistan.
He said that China had covered students from all over Pakistan, not only from big cities but also from other cities and towns like Gwadar, Gujranwala, Kamalia, Multan, Swat, Mingora, Sargodha, and Dera Ismail Khan.
“The students are going to be educated in different fields in various Chinese universities, including computer science and technology, business administration, finance, physical chemistry, architecture, civil engineering, broadcasting communication, international law, journalism and so on, covering bachelors, master, phd and advance training programmes. I believe what they learn in China will prove to be very useful to future development of Pakistan and their hometowns,” he added.
Besides this program, the envoy said, the Ministry of Education in China supports the Chinese universities to establish special funds for the students who want to study in China.
“More than 2000 Pakistani students has been awarded the special universities scholarship this year. I hope more and more Pakistani youth will study in China, and make greater contribution to enhancing the bilateral friendship. The Chinese embassy will continue to do its best in providing facilitation and services in this regard,” said the envoy.
On the occasion, students from across country expressed their delight over the scholarship awards.
Fazal Shafiq, a student from Swat, told Pakistan Today that he wanted to get a post graduate degree in cardiac surgery.
“I have got my education from the US and now this Chinese scholarship would greatly help me learn the modern trends in cardiac surgery,” he added.
Furqan Rao, a student from Sargodha, said that he got scholarship for a PhD degree from Tsinghua University, one of the top universities in the world.
“It’s like a dream come true. I would also acquire a Chinese study in Beijing language and culture for one year,” he added.
Fazlullah Khan, another youth from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, said that he was going to get a post graduate degree in general surgery.
“I want to come back and serve the people of my area which badly need medical professionals,” he concluded.