600 Pakistani students from Cuba in town

[Salman Mushtaq]

Over 600 medical students are visiting Pakistan from Cuba to spend their summer vacation. As many as 910 Pakistani students are pursuing medical studies in Cuba.
The Cuban and Pakistan governments are mutually funding the programme. There is a provision that the students may visit Pakistan once at the expense of government of Pakistan during the entire course of studies. This 2nd batch of students has completed two years of medical study along with a comprehensive course in Spanish and has started their third year of classes.
The 1st batch of students has completed three years of medical study along with a comprehensive course in Spanish and has started their fourth year of classes. The 1st batch had already availed their vacation in Pakistan in 2009.
The cost of air ticket of these students is borne by HEC. These students would return to Cuba after celebrating Eid-ul-Fitr in Pakistan to pursue their third year of medical studies in Cuba .
The students would return to Pakistan in 2014 and 2015 after successful completion of their medical studies in Cuba. It is expected that after return these students would contribute in a big way to improve the health sector of Pakistan and would also strengthen the bilateral friendly relations between the two governments.