ISLAMABAD, Nov 17: A drastic reduction in allocations for the Higher Education Commission (HEC) has started affecting Pakistanis studying in universities abroad on HEC scholarship.

Dawn has learnt that some students in Italy are yet to receive their stipend which should have been transferred to their accounts in the beginning of November.

Twenty-five students went to the Politechnico de Turino University of Italy for Masters of Science (MS) studies in the September session with a two-month (September-October) stipend paid to them in advance.

“We have consumed the money given to us by the HEC and now we are unable to meet our expenses,” Saeed-ur-Reham told Dawn on phone from the university.

He said the students had been forced to seek money from their families in Pakistan.

“When we contacted HEC officials they said the scholarship was in the process of transfer and will reach by mid-December,” he said.