ISLAMABAD: As many as 13 Pakistani universities took part in an education expo organised in Colombo, Sri Lanka where they informed students about higher educational opportunitiesin their country.

The Higher Education Commission (HEC) in collaboration with Pakistan High Commission in Colombo held a three-day Higher Education Expoand Convention Centre in Colombo.

According to a press release issued by HEC, 13 Pakistani public-sector universities took part in the expo. HEC officials, led by the commission’s project director, Jehanzeb Khan, arranged two exclusive seminars to create awareness about higher education opportunities for Sri Lankan students in Pakistan, especially the Allama Iqbal Scholarships for Sri Lankan Students under the Pakistan-Sri Lanka Higher Education Cooperation Programme.

Students and faculty raised different queries about the scholarship programme, the educational system of Pakistan, and the facilities available for international students.

The press release stated that High Commissioner of Pakistan in Sri Lanka retired Maj Gen Umar Farooq Burki attended the event and appreciated the arrangements made by HEC at the venue.

The Pakistan-Sri Lanka Higher Education Cooperation Programme offers scholarships to Sri Lankan students, student and faculty exchange opportunities, and professional training for Sri Lankan government officials, in addition to efforts for enhanced collaboration through higher education expos and establishment of a Centre of Asian Civilisation in Sri Lanka. Under the Allama Iqbal Scholarships (BS/MS/PhD), HEC provides Sri Lankan students an opportunity to study at the best Pakistani universities.

Under the programme, 800 fully-funded and 200 partially-funded scholarships will be offered to Sri Lankan students from undergraduate to doctoral levels. So far, 330 fully-funded scholarships have been awarded; out of them, 11 scholarship recipients have completed their degrees and are now serving in Sri Lanka.

The Pakistani universities which took part in the expo included Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, NED University of Engineering and Technology, Karachi, Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences, Jamshoro, Sindh, Iqra University, Karachi, University of the Punjab, Lahore, University of Engineering and Technology (UET), Lahore, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (UVAS), Lahore, University of Agriculture (UAF), Faisalabad, Lahore University of Management Sciences (Lums), University of Lahore, Institute of Management Sciences (IMSciences), Peshawar, National University of Science and Technology (Nust), Islamabad, and Quaid-i-Azam University (QAU), Islamabad.

Sri Lankan high officials, including Prof Gunapala Nanayakkara, Advisor to the Minister of Education and other dignitaries from various departments of the Sri Lankan bureaucracy visited the Pakistan pavilion. They appreciated the initiatives of the scholarship programme and efforts of the HEC and Pakistani government for enhancing the educational capacity of the Sri Lankan youth, the press release said.

Published in Dawn, March 2nd, 2023