ISLAMABAD, Dec 16 (APP):Pakistan’s Ambassador to Afghanistan Mansoor Ahmad Khan Thursday said that Pakistan has played a very positive role in the recent situation in Kabul particularly for the evacuations of the stranded people.
To alleviate the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, the international community needs to think about restoring banking resources for their there so that arrangements can be made to spend the aid that is coming, he said while addressing a ceremony of German-Pakistani Scholarship Program for Afghan Refugee Students in Pakistan organized by German Hanns Seidel Foundation (HSF).
Ambassador Mansoor said that there are ample opportunities for cooperation and trade between Afghanistan and Pakistan. The trade volume between the two countries could not exceed $2 billion, which could be increased to $8 billion.
Speaking on the occasion, German ambassador to Pakistan, Bernhard Schlagheck, said the Pakistani government is extremely concerned about the current situation in Afghanistan and that is the same concern of my country.
It is the responsibility of the entire international community, including Germany to play a role in stabilizing Afghanistan during this ordeal. The moot of OIC Council of Foreign Ministers is a crucial development in this regard.
He said the scholarship to Afghan students is being funded by the German government. He also expressed hope that the students receiving this scholarship will play their part in stabilizing Afghanistan after completing their education.
Dr. Steffen Kudella, Resident Representative of HSF Pakistan, stressed that education is the most sustainable form of international cooperation and political stabilization. In his welcome address, he said:
Afghanistan needs young people who are talented, well-educated, professionally experienced, and contributing to the inclusive rebuilding of their home country. Afghanistan needs agents of positive change!
Through the Hanns Seidel Scholarship Program, the National Dialogue Forum and Hanns Seidel Foundation support the education and training of such agents of positive change in Pakistan.
He said that the German Hanns Seidel Foundation (HSF) in collaboration with its implementation partner National Dialogue Forum (NDF) started their new flagship project Hanns Seidel Scholarship Program (HSSP): Support for Afghan Refugees in Pakistan.
Through this scholarship program, extensive support will be provided to registered Afghan refugees studying at Pakistani universities. Along with financial and conceptual support, the scholarship holders will also be given the opportunity to equip themselves with professional skills through on-the-job trainings.
The Executive Director of NDF, Sheharyar Khan, highlighted that this generous scholarship is an opportunity for Afghan students to excel in their academic pursuits and play a much-needed leadership role in the rebuilding of their country.
The first 23 selected HSSP scholarship holders also attended the event and were presented with HSSP Laptops for their academic studies by the German Ambassador.
HSSP includes around 30 full financial grants positions per year for all Afghan students with above-average academic record, volunteer experience and democratic and regional interest. It covers the full duration of their undergraduate or graduate degrees at HEC recognized universities all over Pakistan.
The scholarships also include conceptual support on a range of relevant topics such as social cohesion, human rights, political systems, digital and soft skills and research knowledge, he added.
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