Pakistani students studying in UK institutions have been urged to translate into reality the vision of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah of making the South Asian nation into a moderate and progressive country.
Addressing Pakistani students who recently began their studies in various UK institutions on Tuesday evening at a function arranged by the National Union of Pakistan Students Alumi (NUPSA) at the High Commission, Pakistan High Commissioner to UK, Wajid Shamsul Hasan said the students had a special responsibility of driving home this objective as the country could not afford to fall into the hands of retrogressive forces.
He urged the Pakistani student societies in the various UK educational institutions to play their due role in projecting the moderate image and tolerant image of the country. The High Commissioner said the Pakistani Government had taken up the issue of delay in the issuance of visas to students who had applied for studies in Britain with the UK authorities.
Dominic Scott, Chief Executive, UK Council for International Student Affairs, said his organisation was aware of the visa problem being faced by the Pakistani students and had impressed upon the UK Government to resolve this matter at the earliest.
He added the students who had already gained admission in the UK institutions but had yet to join their respective colleges and universities risk missing the entire academic year because of visa problems. NUPSA President Khizer Hayat welcomed the new students and said the organisation planned to arrange the second Pakistan students' week next year following the success of the inaugural event earlier in February this year.