Thousands of international students stranded in UK amid pandemic

LONDON; Thousands of international students from different countries are stranded in universities across the United Kingdom. Amongst them, there are Pakistani nationals as well, who are willing to go back but can’t due to either ticket prices or the cancellation of flight operations.

International students who have either failed to book their flights quickly enough or could not afford them now find themselves stuck in the UK for the foreseeable future.

Malik Haider Noon, an international student at University of Huddersfield, is unable to get back to Pakistan as flights have been cancelled. Haider originates from Lahore and is studying computer sciences at the university.

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'Have no way of getting home'

”The the reality is I have no way of getting home for the foreseeable future. I have limited funds and now I am running out of money," Noon told Geo News.

“I have contacted Pakistan international Airlines in the UK but had no response at all, they don’t answer calls and don’t respond to emails. I have sent several emails to the Pakistan High Commission in London,” he shared.

“The High Commission have informed me via email that they have my details and will coordinates with PIA and the airline will then contact me but it’s been 3 weeks," he said,

"I have had no response from the High Commission. PIA have now removed all special flights from their website. Agents are asking on average £800-900 a person. I am an international student and have very limited funds. I have run out on money,” he further added.

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'Selling future flights for June onward'

Noon, in his appeal, requested the Pakistan High Commission and Prime Minister Imran Khan to arrange special flights, loans or funds for Pakistani nationals struck in the UK.

While PIA is accepting bookings from April 16, passengers remain unsure whether they will be taken back to Pakistan, as one British Pound costs over 200 Pakistani rupees, and is making it increasingly difficult for stranded Pakistanis to continue staying in the UK.

When approached, a PIA official commented, “There’s clarity as of now. We are selling future flights only for June onward. Our decisions are linked with decisions made by the government of Pakistan, Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority and National Disaster Management Authority.”