ISLAMABAD: A recent incident of mob violence against Pakistani and other international students in Kyrgyzstan’s capital Bishkek raised serious concerns about the situation of education in the Central Asian Country.
President of the Federal Chapter of Pakistan Association of Private Medical and Dental Institutions (PAMI) and CEO of Islamabad Medical and Dental College (IMDC) Yasir Khan Niazi has expressed sorrow over the recent incidents of violence and said that an emergency meeting convened by the Executive Committee of PAMI was held to discuss in detail the increasingly hostile environment faced by these students and prompt government intervention.
Addressing the meeting, Yasir Niazi condemned the acts of violence and demanded immediate help and justice for the affected students. The safety of our students abroad is paramount, Yasir Niazi said, “We demand a thorough investigation into these incidents to ensure the safety of our students abroad.”
Among all this saga another Pandora’s box has been opened regarding Pakistan students being sent to Kyrgyzstan for medical studies even though the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) blacklisted the Kyrgyzstan universities amongst others during the PTI government.
This action was taken because their licenses were revoked by the Kyrgyz Health Ministry, due to the universities’ failure to meet the required standards for clinical facilities and medical equipment.
READ MORE: No casualties among Pakistani students in Bishkek mob violence, confirms Kyrgyz government
According to the reports, Chairman HEC Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed turned out to be the main character of the mafia.
As per documents available with Daily Ausaf, it has been revealed that Dr. Mukhtar has an important role in the revocation of the license of Kyrgyz medical institutions. Bribes of lakhs of rupees per student was taken for the revocation of the license of blacklisted colleges.
مبینہ طور پر لاکھوں روپے کی رشوت سے بلیک لسٹ کالجز سے پابندے ہٹائے جانے کا انکشاف، ایچ ای سی کے چیئر مین ڈالٹر مختار احمد جعل سازی میں ملوث اہم کردار نکلے#ABNNews #Kyrgyzstan #Bishkek #HEC #medicalColleges #blacklist pic.twitter.com/zDMs91mDT0
— ABN NEWS (@abnnewspk) May 20, 2024
On July 29, 2022, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif appointed Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed as Chairman of the Higher Education Commission (HEC) for two years. Later in August 2022, On August 19, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic Aibek Artykbayev met Dr. Mukhtar during his visit to Pakistan.
Both sides discussed key aspects of bilateral cooperation in the education sector, the press office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kyrgyzstan reported. Kyrgyz official called on the Chairman HEC to lift restrictions on some medical universities in Kyrgyzstan.
An education consultant and CEO of Educational Advisor, Imran Nazir approved the blacklisted medical colleges in Kyrgyzstan to be revoked.
This not only threatens the quality of education but also results in the transfer of significant capital from Pakistan to India and other countries. Yasir Niazi emphasized that our resources are being diverted to other countries which is harming both our educational quality and economic stability.
Furthermore, he urged the Government of Pakistan to investigate the actions of former officials of the Pakistan Medical Commission (PMC) who allowed students to study in Kyrgyzstan’s institutions without ensuring adequate facilities and safety measures.
