The Pakistani Embassy in Kathmandu organised its annual alumni gathering on Friday, celebrating Nepali graduates who have completed their education in Pakistan.

The embassy said in a statement that the event brought together alumni who received scholarships under the Pakistan Technical Assistance Programme in fields such as MBBS, BDS, diplomas in pharmacy and engineering, and graduates from other disciplines, including mass communication and agriculture.

Speaking at the function, Minister for Education, Science and Technology Bidya Bhattarai highlighted the longstanding friendship between Nepal and Pakistan and appreciated Pakistan’s support in providing quality education to Nepali students.

Bhattarai noted that graduates from Pakistan were playing a vital role in Nepal’s development and expressed her hope for continued collaboration in the field of education.

Also speaking, Pakistani Ambassador to Nepal Abrar H Hashmi, underscored the significance of the educational scholarships in fostering people-to-people relations between the two countries.

He emphasised that the alumni forged lifelong friendships during their time in Pakistan and assured continued support for Nepali students in the future.

Hashmi also announced increased scholarship opportunities, with five additional seats offered this year, and plans to expand the programme further.

He highlighted the recently introduced visa liberalisation, which waives visa fees for Nepali students, making travel to Pakistan for education easier.