China gives Rs5m for its expats in Pakistan

Chinese govt provides Rs5 million for education of Ugur students studying in G-B and Rawalpindi.

GILGIT: The Chinese government has provided Rs5 million for the education of Ugur students studying in Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B) and Rawalpindi.

Abdur Rehman Bukhari, the General Secretary of the Gilgit-Baltistan Chinese Overseas Association (G-BCOA), said on Wednesday, “The Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan handed over the money in a ceremony in Islamabad.”

Known as Ugur, the Muslims community of China now settled in G-B and Rawalpindi had migrated from China’s Sinkiang province before partition. The money will be spent on the education of students studying in G-B and Rawalpindi, meaning those of Ugur origin will not have to worry about tuition fees for at least one year, said Bukhari. He added that the funds for 2011 had been provided in advance.

There are nearly 5,000 Ugur families in Pakistan, many of whom have maintained ties with their relatives in Kashgar and other parts of Sinkiang. Bukhari said that around 500 students would benefit from the money and that G-BCOA would verify the data of students enrolled in various Pakistani schools before depositing their fees.

In 2010 the Chinese embassy in Pakistan arranged a post-Eid party for Ugurs in Gilgit. The party was attended by officials of the Chinese Road and Building Company and dozens of representatives of G-BCOA.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 3^rd, 2011.