F.P. Report
PESHAWAR: A total of forty Afghan students graduated from Islamia College Peshawar (ICP) through an international scholarship named “Allama Iqbal Scholarship for Afghan Students”, one from Zoology, two from English, two from Psychology, two from Economics, three from BCS, fifteen from the BBA, and fifteen from Political Sciences Department.
The graduation ceremony took place in Taroon Hall. Chairmen of all Departments, the VC and the provost of the ICP were attend the ceremony. Students shared their experiences and challenges that they faced in their 4-year journey. One of the Afghan BS English students, Fouzia Khalilzai, says “I am lucky to have gotten this opportunity to study in Pakistan. Due to cultural similarities, it was not hard for me to become accustomed to this environment.
Also, ICP is a rich environment for the study. All teachers are cooperative.” Another student, Abdullah Sharifi from the BBA department, says, “Being Afghan, I studied in Pushto till my 12th grade. It was an amazing opportunity that made me aware of Urdu and the international language English, which will help me in the future.” Abdul Bari Jalili, from the Political Sciences department, added that the teachers were very cooperative, and they used to explain every lecture to them in the Pashto language.
That helped them in their studies. Most students’ opinions show that studying in Pakistan has positively affected their lives. However, there were challenges, such as coming from a faraway place for studies and spending a prolonged period in the hostel. Also, not being familiar with the Urdu and English languages caused trouble. They went through many ups and downs. It was tough to understand the teachers’ language. However, students thought they overcame all these challenges through hard work and unwavering dedication to their studies.
They used to take help from teachers and Pakistani students to make themselves understand. Furthermore, students added that they have a strong desire not only to serve their country but also to spread a positive image of Pakistan across the border. It is the country that prepared them for their future. Besides, they showed their interest in further studying in Pakistan. They also talked about the importance and aim of the scholarship.
They said that the purpose of the mentioned scholarship is to strengthen bilateral relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Further, it enhances people-to-people contacts. The scholarship covers living allowance, book allowance, university tuition fees, and hostel dues.
Also, visas are provide by the HEC to help students not be disturbed by visa issues. Overall, the scholarship has a positive impact on students. In addition to academics, students have taken various short courses that have equipped them with practical skills. Besides other advantages, it strengthens bilateral relations and spreads a positive image of Pakistan. The government of Pakistan should announce such scholarships in the future as well. It will build healthy relationships between the neighboring countries. Long live Pakistan; long live Afghanistan.
