ISLAMABAD, Oct 4: The government will send 200 students each year to New Zealand for higher studies in key subjects of basic and applied sciences, says an official statement.

The details of the programme were discussed at a meeting held between Chairman Higher Education Commission Dr Attaur Rehman and Hanish McMaster, the Ambassador of New Zealand based in Tehran, here on Tuesday.

Discussions were held as a follow-up to the decisions taken during the visit of President Gen Pervez Musharraf to New Zealand.

Pakistani students will be sent for master’s leading to PhD programme in physics, chemistry, biology, mathematics, computer sciences, biotechnology, economics, finance and business management, etc.

The chairman HEC asked Mr McMaster to provide a time- and money-bound action plan. The first batch of students should leave as early as possible, he said.