First Batch of Palestinian Students Reach Pakistan to Continue Education

The first group of 27 Palestinian medical students from Gaza has arrived in Lahore to continue their education in Pakistan, according to ARY News. The students traveled via an international flight from Istanbul and were escorted to a local hotel under tight security.

Before they arrived in Lahore, officials from the Embassy of Pakistan in Cairo, alongside representatives from the Al-Khidmat Foundation, facilitated the students’ departure from Cairo International Airport.

This group is part of a larger contingent of 192 Palestinian medical students from the war-torn Gaza Strip, who will continue their medical and dental studies at various institutions across Pakistan. These students will be supported under fully-funded programs, following directives from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

Notably, the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) had earlier granted special permission for students from Gaza to complete their medical education in Pakistan. This decision was made in response to a request from Pakistan’s High Commissioner in London.

The PMDC president stated that approximately 100 medical and dental students from Gaza are expected to study in Pakistan, and they will be accommodated in Pakistani medical and dental colleges. A committee will oversee the smooth completion of their education.

This move comes amid the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) estimates that around 250,000 people have been affected by evacuation orders issued by Israel’s military. According to Gaza’s health ministry, the Israeli offensive has claimed over 42,000 lives, mostly civilians.