PESHAWAR: Afghanistan has urged the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government to open a sub-campus of Khyber Medical University in Kabul to facilitate the students of war-stricken country in pursuance of medical education.

The request was made by Afghan Consul General Najibullah Ahmadzai in a meeting with KMU Vice-chancellor Prof Ziaul Haq on Tuesday.

Prof Zia welcomed the proposal of the Afghan diplomat about launching a campus in Afghan capital and assured all his support in that connection, said a press release.

He said that Pakistan and Afghanistan had brotherly relations and both the neighbouring countries had common religion, history and culture. He said that they knew about the issues of Afghan students studying in various fields of medical sciences in the varsity’s constituent colleges and institutes.

“At present, 78 Afghan students are studying in the constituent institutes of KMU on the special directives of Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan,” said Prof Zia.

Apart from tuition fees in the fields of MBBS, BDS, physiotherapy, nursing, paramedical sciences and basic medical sciences, Rs238, 000 was being paid per student annually under Allama Mohammad Iqbal Scholarship scheme sponsored by Higher Education Commission in the form of hostel, food and books and stationery expenses.

The vice-chancellor told the Afghan diplomat that besides Masters, MPhil and PhD in public health, basic medical sciences and medical education, KMU was offering bachelor programmes in all important fields of medicine such as MBBS, BDS, nursing, physiotherapy and paramedical sciences.

Prof Zia said that all those programmes had vast opportunities for admission and training for Afghan students. He agreed with the proposal of a launching a short training course for Afghan students as well.

“We are ready to provide training to Afghan students in all fields of medicine for which the Afghan government through the relevant agencies of the government of Pakistan may initiate a viable programme,” he added.

Published in Dawn, October 21st, 2020