Pakistan to send relief package for stranded students in China today

Syed Zulfikar Bukhari seeks parents’ advice on improving the relief process

ISLAMABAD: The government’s point-man on overseas Pakistanis on Wednesday said that 15 days of relief package for as many as 1,179 Pakistani students, who are stuck in China, would be dispatched on Thursday (today).

“The government will dispatch 15 days of relief package for 1,179 students on Thursday (today) from Islamabad,” Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development Syed Zulfikar Bukhari said during a meeting with the parents of children, who are stuck in China, after the outbreak of novel coronavirus.

The relief package includes food and other necessary items. In this regard, he urged the parents to advice the government if they find any shortcomings.

Financial assistance had been dispatched to 993 students till date – out of 1,179, he said.

The PM’s aide said that requirements, including food and money of the students, would be shared with the parents in advance. He added the government was also considering taking care of the children in the holy month of Ramazan.

The SAPM also took notice of complaints related to the provision of medicines to students, directing the officials concerned to ensure the availability of required item and furnish a report accordingly.

On update regarding students, he informed the parents that their kids were being looked after “very well” by the Government of China. The whole world has witnessed that China had effectively fought with the deadly virus, he added.

“China is the only country where the cases of coronavirus are on the decreasing trend,” he added.

The minister said that it was a difficult decision to not bring back the Pakistani students from China but time had proven that it was a wise decision. “We made a promise that the Government of Pakistan will take care of your children,” he added.