ABBOTTABAD, June 16: The secretary of the South Asia division of the Cuban Institute of Friendship with People, Ms Odalys, has said that 300 Pakistani students are studying in Cuba at present under the medical scholarship scheme offered by Cuba.

Addressing a reception organised by the Pak-Cuba Friendship Association (PCFA) on Saturday, she said that the number of scholarships had been increased to 1,000, adding that the institute was working for strengthening ties between the two countries.

PCFA president Dr Azhar Khan Jadoon in his address of welcome lauded the spirit of the Cuban government and people.

He said that over 500 operations had been carried out by one Cuban field hospital at the Women Medical College, adding that not a single case of infection was reported which proved the expertise of the Cuban team.

Dr Jadoon said that efforts were being made to send Pakistani medical technicians and paramedical staff to Cuba for training, adding that negotiations were in the final stage for hiring the services of Cuban doctors for the Abbottabad hospital.

He said the Cuban government had basically offered the scholarships to students from the earthquake-affected areas but, he added, only eight students from those areas could win the competition for the scholarship. He demanded a fixed quota for them.