New Zealand has always been known to people in Pakistan as a passionate cricket playing nation and the land of Kiwi bird.
All Blacks greats, Sir Richard Hadlee, Daniel Vettori and likes are household names in Pakistan.
The geographic distance between the two countries until few years ago, was an impediment in forging closer people to people contacts.
Traditionally, New Zealand’s reputation for excellence in the agriculture and dairy sector attracted postgraduate students from Pakistan in those sectors only. Lately however, a vital step towards enhancement of people-to-people contact was taken by the Government of Pakistan.
In 2005, The Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan added New Zealand to its list of countries as one of the destinations for sending our scholars for advanced studies.
Within a short span of six years, there are over 140 PhD Pakistani scholars in New Zealand pursuing wide-ranging disciplines including computer science, biological and medical sciences, engineering technology, physical sciences, social sciences and business education.
The HEC fully funded scholars are placed in leading universities in Auckland, Christchurch, Palmerston North and Wellington.
Our scholars are not only acquiring the necessary academic skills and knowledge in their respective fields but are also experiencing the Kiwi society’s enriching multicultural norms.
In turn, they have opportunities to showcase Pakistani culture to local population as well.
Scholars forge bond
Our scholars’ firsthand experience of New Zealand’s diversity and ethos help shape people of Pakistan’s better understanding of New Zealand’s rich culture, values and achievements in diverse fields.
These scholars and their families are acting as a bridge between our two countries and cultures, though far apart in terms of distance, but share several commonalities, such as English language, passion for cricket and Commonwealth bonds.
Acknowledging this growing focus on higher education in New Zealand, Dawn, the leading English daily of Pakistan, in its Special Supplement of “Annual Dawn Education Expo”, earlier this year, published information about New Zealand Universities.
Encouraged by the students’ enthusiastic response and quest to learn more about New Zealand education system, Dawn will again showcase New Zealand education in its ‘Education Expo 2012,’ to be held at Karachi in February, 2012.
Few of the early HEC scholars have already returned to Pakistan and are contributing positively to national development.
They have taken with them the valuable experience acquired both as a student and as a member of the Kiwi society.
As more scholars will return soon they will not only carry with them their improved professional skills but their friendships and links as well, which most certainly, will provide much needed impetus to enhance people to people contacts between our two countries.
Building on these educational linkages, there are great opportunities for both the countries to co-operatively further strengthen socio-economic partnership.
In the present day world, telecommunication revolution has provided the requisite tools to build upon these links and bonds irrespective of the physical distance.
Syed Ibne Abbas is High Commissioner of Pakistan based in Wellington. The above article is exclusive to Indian Newslink ©
