Great potential for educating more Pakistani students in Belarus

 There is a big potential for increasing the number of university students from Pakistan in Belarusian higher education institutions as a whole and in Gomel State Medical University in particular. Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Pakistan to Belarus Sajjad Haider Khan made the statement after meeting with the university's Rector Igor Stoma on 20 September, BelTA has learned.

It was noted during the meeting that there are 19 students from Pakistan in Gomel State Medical University at present. There are a total of about 40 students from Pakistan in Belarus, the ambassador clarified. The number may be small for now but it grows every year.

Sajjad Haider Khan said: “The government of our country works hard to advance relations [with Belarus] in various fields, including in culture and education. There is a huge potential here. A large number of Pakistani students seek medical education and thousands of Pakistanis leave the country for this purpose.” For instance, the number of Pakistani students is measured in thousands in some Central Asia countries such as Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. “It is possible to increase the figures in Belarus, too. Both sides should work for it,” the diplomat is convinced.

During the meeting Sajjad Haider Khan invited the university to send a delegation to Pakistan to present the university's education capabilities and make as many potential students from Pakistan aware of the Belarusian university.

Among the benefits the diplomat also mentioned that Belarusian medical universities have been recently granted a higher category in Pakistan. “Belarusian diplomas will be certified and approved by the medical commission of Pakistan,” Sajjad Haider Khan remarked.

The ambassador is also convinced that Pakistani families, who live in other countries, for instance, in Saudi Arabia, UAE, Bahrain, and Kuwait, will also be able to send their kids to study in Belarusian universities.

“Medicine is one of the most popular fields for getting higher education among Pakistanis,” Sajjad Haider Khan emphasized.

In turn, Igor Stoma noted: “Our medical education is in demand due to an optimal combination of factors. We've never tried to inflate numbers to the detriment of education quality. This is why graduates of our university are by definition good medics.”

In his words, the cost of education is another advantage. “It is a competitive advantage. We allow representatives of various parts of the society, including not very rich ones, to train a medic for their country, for their family, for their community,” the rector argued.

He added: “The safety of the child, who travels to another country, to another culture, to a country with a different religion and behavioral rules, is another important factor. Naturally, his or her parents worry. And Gomel can offer an absolutely safe, tolerant, and hospitable environment.”

The rector of Gomel State Medical University is convinced that the current number of students from Pakistan is only the beginning. “We will be able to establish more contacts with this country in the future,” he summed it up.