ISLAMABAD, Feb 25: Pakistan has agreed to send 1,500 teachers to Eritrea to strengthen bilateral relations in the field of education.

The decision in this regard was taken here on Friday during a meeting between Federal Education Minister Lt-Gen (retired) Javed Ashraf Qazi and his Eritrean counterpart Osman Saleh.

A statement issued here said besides sending teachers, Gen Qazi also offered free teachers training to Eritrean teachers at the National Institute of Science and Technical Education (NISTE), Islamabad.

The teachers would be send to teach different disciplines including business administration, agriculture sciences, technical and vocational trades, and high school scheme of studies, etc.

The terms and conditions would soon be finalized before signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two countries, the statement said. In this regard, the ministry of education would invite applications from desirous teachers through advertisements and selection would be made jointly by the Pakistani authorities and a team of experts from Eritrea.

Speaking on the occasion, Gen Qazi said the relationship between Pakistan and Eritrea had always been very warm and cordial. Moreover, Pakistan also assured that it is ready to increase seats in its professional medical and engineering colleges for Eritrean students.

The minister offered services of pre and in-service establishments and financial training institutions for the training of Eritrean bureaucrats. He said President Pervez Musharraf had already extended invitation to his counterpart for the training of Eritrean personnel at the Pakistani defence schools and colleges.

Gen Qazi said to strengthen bilateral ties, the ministry of education would be pleased to introduce students exchange programme with Eritrea, and would extend every possible help in the field of higher and professional education.