As the relatives and friends of Shahzaib Bajwa – the Pakistani student left comatose following an accident in the United States – raise funds for his treatment, the Foreign Office said on Thursday that Washington is ready to extend his visa if his family can bear the cost of medical care and their stay.
“Visa extension is not a problem,” said FO spokeswoman Tasnim Aslam at her weekly briefing.“But if the family decides to continue the treatment in the US, the payment for Shahzaib’s future treatment as well as the expenditure on his family’s stay will have to be borne by the family itself,” she said.
Aslam said doctors were not optimistic about Shahzaib’s recovery.
“Since his visa is expiring on February 28, the hospital is considering sending him back to Pakistan,” she said. She added that while initially, the Pakistani embassy had been given the impression that Shahzaib’s family was willing to take him back to Pakistan, they had now indicated their preference to continue his treatment in the US.
“Visas for Shahzaib’s brother and cousin have been arranged on an urgent basis. A visa was also arranged for Shahzaib’s mother,” she said.
The spokesperson said the consulate has arranged free accommodation for two months for Shahzaib’s family through IREX, the organisation that runs the exchange programme. The consulate general also mobilised the local Pakistani community to arrange accommodation for Shahzaib’s family for the last one month.
By Thursday afternoon, an online appeal created by Shahzaib’s brother raised more than $19,000.
A change.org petition created by a friend that calls on the United States to extend his visa has so far gathered over 1,000 signatures, many of which came from Americans.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 14th, 2014.
COMMENTS (10)
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@Akhtar: and value could be few hundred or few thousand Rupees in Pakistan. Be thankful a Christian majority country has spent more then $300000 for treatment of this Pakistani young man. I am sure US hospital has done all that can be done. Insurance company is willing to pay $100.000 dollars for treatment in Pakistan.
Extending visa for only 1 week is no solution. The fact is that the accident happened on US soil and a US based deer (antelope) was responsible for this. Own up your responsibility US and do something substatial for the guy. A sad mishap indeed. May Allah grant health and life to Shahrukh, Ameen.
God bless him and Americans who are taking care of him. Pakistani American Doctor's association should come forward at this hour of need. Those who give money to useless political parties for fake revolutions should do real humanitarian deed.
Glad to see signatures came from Americans as well.... I trust that Americans do make efforts to surve humanity.
Cheers. :)... I pray he get well soon...!!!
The state department has agreed to extend the visa, the hospital in the US has paid $350,000 in expenses. NOW where is the FOREIGN OFFICE & Pakistan government representatives to aid their citizen in a foreign land?
What is the cost his stay............
You have to give credit where it's due. American taxpayers have already paid $350,000 for the treatment of Shahzaib. Plus the insurance company will be paying further $100,000. All this despite the fact that he is not even an American citizen. The family members were also promptly issued visas. Thank you America.
And hoping, hoping Shahzaib will get better soon.
Get well soon bro! Sad that human life too has a value now
May he recover soon.
Good 2 know. May Allah bless him life full of health (ameen)