SHANGLA: Around 200 students from Shangla and Swat stranded in Kyrgyzstan have urged the government to make arrangements for their return.

Talking to mediapersons through video calls here on Tuesday from Bishkek, they said they had been suffering due to shortage of food because police in Kyrgyzstan did not allow them to go out for buying edibles since imposition of the lockdown a month ago.

Wajahatullah, a student from Bisham, said around 100 students from Shangla, and the rest from Swat, Dir and Malakand had been stranded in their hostels, but the country’s government was not cooperating with the foreign students.

He said most of the students were enrolled in the International Medical University Kyrgyzstan.

“Last week, when I was returning after drawing money from an ATM the local police arrested and fined me heavily,” Wajahatullah said.

Jafar Shah from Lilonai said the students were running short of money and accused the Kyrgyz police of targeting the foreign students. He urged the government to arrange special flights for their return before the start of Ramazan.

Adnan Khan from Bisham said the Pakistani embassy in Kyrgyzstan provided them with ration after 10 days which hardly lasted for two days. Ammar Khan from Swat said they had frequently contacted federal minister Murad Saeed and MPAs, but had yet to be assured of any help.

Published in Dawn, April 22nd, 2020