Photo: International Islamic University, Islamabad
In a bid to address the growing need for affordable higher education for expatriate children, Pakistani community leaders have ratcheted up efforts for the establishment of a Pakistani public sector university’s campus in Qatar.
Talking to The Peninsula, Malik Qaiser Awan, President, Pakistan Education Forum, said the Forum in collaboration with Pakistan Business Forum and Pakistan Welfare Forum was making efforts to establish a campus of International Islamic University, Islamabad, in Qatar.
“We talked in length on the subject with President of Pakistan, Mamnoon Hussain, during his recent visit to Qatar and he assured us of his support for accomplishing the task. Definitely we have to go through many phases but with the support of the President of Pakistan, we will reach a feasible option” he added.
He said they were trying that the matter should be taken up at the level of governments. "Only for an operational public sector university of Pakistan it is possible to fulfil criteria set by the Ministry of Education and Higher Education. As its fee structure will be economical and affordable, expats not only from the Pakistani community but also from other countries will be able to seek admissions,” Awan added.
Riyaz Ahmed Bakali, Founding Director, The Future Generation Group of schools, said that Pakistani expats were facing three kinds of issues regarding higher education of their children: economic, social and lack-of-choice. “With the opening of new private universities, the problem will be resolved.”
Expats have been complaining about difficulties being faced by them regarding higher education of their children. Hafeezullah says: “The community is facing serious problems regarding higher education of their children.
Either schools operating here should start undergraduate classes with affiliation of universities or a Pakistani university should open a campus here as higher education is very expensive here. Ultimately, expats send their children to Pakistan for graduation and post-graduation. If they are girls then mothers have to shift with them that causes great inconvenience to the families.”
