The photo has been used for illustrative purposes.

The Canadian government has announced to expand its Students Direct Stream (SDS) Programme to the international students from Pakistan enabling them to get student visa within 20 days.

Last year, the Canadian government had initiated the programme for the students from India, China, Philippines and Vietnam. Now, Pakistan has been included in the list of countries, under the SDS programme by the Canadian Immigration Department, said a press release.

High Commissioner of Pakistan to Canada Raza Bashir Tarar welcomed the decision of the Canadian government for inclusion of Pakistani international students into the programme as it would facilitate the students desiring to study in Canada.

He appreciated the goodwill gesture by the Canadian government and expressed gratitude to the special efforts of Immigration Minister Ahmed Hussen and the members of the Canadian Parliament for fulfilling their commitment.

The high commissioner in his meetings with the Canadian officials had urged them to include Pakistani students in the SDS programme as academically Pakistani students were second to none.

Tarar said many Pakistani students want to study in Canada but could not because of difficulties in getting visas. He hoped that the facilitation of visa issuance by the Canadian government will encourage Pakistanis to go to this country for higher studies.

Many feel that there are lots of delays by the Canadian high commission in Islamabad in granting visas to Pakistani students.