July 09, 2022

Pakistan Students to China Struggle to Purchase Air Tickets: Chance to Resume In-Person Learning Hampered

T The media learned that more than 100 Pakistani students were happy when they got confirmation about returning to China to complete their studies. Students were excited to start in-person instruction but were unhappy after learning the cost of flight tickets to China (20,000 yuan).

One Pakistani PhD applicant chosen to return claimed that at the beginning of June, the Pakistani Higher Education Commission called him to confirm that he was one of 251 students to return to China. He was, however, astonished to learn about ticket prices.

…the main cost for international students returning to China is not for quarantine, but for flight tickets which have gone up in price…

Prior to the pandemic, Pakistani students would often pay $150 to $300 for airfares to China. Sources say that many students chosen to go back had to borrow money to buy flight tickets to China. One of the PhD applicants promised to repay his friends and family when he got to China as that is when he would start getting his PhD income once more. The student said that 104 of the 251 selected students were able to pay for the flight – for now, those that couldn’t afford it have lost their chance to return. One of the students said, “It’s becoming almost impossible for me to complete my degree on time.”

The Chinese government had agreed to let 250 students enter the country initially, and the Pakistani embassy in Beijing will continue to strive to guarantee that all students could return, according to the local news.

According to market research company BONARD, many students will probably have to pay a considerable price to return to China. Speaking to the media, Grace Zhu, BONARD’s China branch manager said, “The main cost for international students returning to China is not for quarantine, but for flight tickets which have gone up in price. To date, the circuit breaker mechanism has not been removed, and the total number of flights available is still limited, which is the main reason for the high prices seen.” She further added, “In addition to scholarships, some universities are providing scholarships for returned overseas students to help with flight and quarantine expenses.”

Posted in News and tagged News, Pakistan, China, Students, Airline Fares
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