11 July 2004	Sunday	22 Jamadi-ul-Awwal 1425

FAISALABAD, July 10: Pakistan is second to Nigeria in the world whose nationals misuse the US student visa to stay in the States illegally, says a US Education Foundation official.

Speaking at a seminar organized by the University of Agriculture here on Saturday, Dr Grace C. Clark, Executive Director, US Education Foundation for Pakistan, said her country had been facing innumerable problems owing to illegal immigrants. That was why, she said, the US administration, time and again, had to impose some restrictions on the student visa.

She said that a 10-month course was being implemented in the US universities for the promotion of international languages among the foreign students..

She said that a six to 10 weeks long courses had been launched in US summer study institutes on language, culture and society, foreign policy, economy and religion. "Over 400 applications have so far been received for these programmes but the candidates having three reference letters from recognized universities of Pakistan would be eligible for admission and visa," she added.

University of Agriculture Vice Chancellor Dr Bashir Ahmed, on this occasion, said that over one-third of the total teaching staff of the UAF had acquired education from the US.

Public Relations Officer of the US Consulate, Lahore, Mr Rex Moser, also highlighted the visa polices of USA for the students.

According to APP, Dr Clark said the US Secretary of State Collin Powell had issued directives to American embassies to soften visa regulations for academics and research scholars.

She said late Senator J. Willium Fulbright had launched the 'Fulbright Scholarship Program' in 1946.

"It is the biggest educational & cultural programme", she said and added that it offered two-year masters degree and two-year PhD studies.

Three killed: Three members of a family died after taking meals here on Friday night in Chak 166-GB.

Shahida Parveen (15), Naseem Bibi (20) and their brother Muhammad Saleem (22) took dinner and went to sleep. Later, they were found dead under mysterious circumstances and buried without postmortem.

The police have sent the eatables to the laboratory.