In the hour of need: APS survivors invited to Tajikistan

Social circles applaud Tajik president’s goodwill gesture

ISLAMABAD: The President of the Republic of Tajikistan, Emomali Rahmon, has invited a group of affected students of the Peshawar Army Public School to visit Tajikistan for convalescence.

According to the directions of the President of the Republic of Tajikistan, Emomali Rahmon, various ministries and agencies have chalked out a comprehensive programme for students of Peshawar Army Public School, spokesman of the Embassy of Tajikistan told Daily Express.

The programme includes cultural performances and trip to historical places in Tajikistan. The purpose of President Emomali Ramón’s initiative is to share grief of these students and their families and help them recover from the traumatic situation they have been facing ever since that incident took place. The traumatized students of APS will visit Tajikistan in the coming summer vacations; however, the final dates will be forwarded to the Embassy by the Pakistan government, the spokesman said.

Tajikistan, after China, is the second country, which has invited students to visit. Meanwhile, the social and political circles of Pakistan have greatly applauded the goodwill gesture of the Tajik president and hoped other countries would also come forward to share grief of the students.

Various Pakistani organizations too lauded the step and thanked the Tajik president for his initiative. The step, they hoped, would further cement brotherly ties between Pakistan and Tajikistan besides strengthening relationships between the people of the two countries.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 28^th, 2015.