When promises fail - The untold struggle of PoGB’s forgotten students

Dozens of Pakistani students in Pakistan-occupied Gilgit-Baltistan (PoGB) are protesting after being left stranded due to the government’s failure to manage their education programs linked with China. Holding handwritten placards reading “Let Us Go Home” and “Go Back China”, the students are pleading for immediate intervention as they face uncertainty, financial hardship, and the collapse of their academic futures.

These students had enrolled in China-funded or China-linked academic programs under various collaboration schemes in PoGB. However, recent administrative breakdowns, border restrictions, and a complete lack of coordination between Pakistan and China have left them stuck in limbo. With institutions halting operations and no clear direction from authorities, the youth are unable to either continue their education in PoGB or return to their home provinces.

The crisis has been caused by Pakistan’s negligence and mismanagement, coupled with poor coordination with Chinese authorities. Funding lapses, logistical failures, and bureaucratic confusion have left students stranded without proper housing, food, or travel support. Many now face severe emotional and academic stress as semesters are disrupted and their futures remain uncertain. Parents back home are equally distressed, with no clarity from the government about when their children can return or resume studies.

Videos circulating online show the students protesting peacefully, holding signs in English and Chinese, demanding that the authorities allow them to go home. Their pleas reflect a growing frustration with Islamabad’s silence and disregard for their welfare.

This situation is not new for Pakistan. During the COVID-19 outbreak in Wuhan, China, hundreds of Pakistani students were similarly abandoned as the government delayed their evacuation while other countries rescued their nationals. The same neglect is repeating in PoGB, highlighting a pattern of government inaction during crises involving students.

Despite repeated appeals, Islamabad has yet to announce any concrete plan for repatriation, academic continuity, or financial aid. The silence from authorities has sparked outrage among families and local communities, who accuse the government of treating PoGB residents as second-class citizens.

The plight of these students underscores deeper issues of governance in PoGB, a region that has long suffered from underdevelopment and lack of representation. The crisis also casts a shadow over Pakistan’s much-touted cooperation with China under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), exposing the human cost of poor planning and neglect.

Unless urgent action is taken to bring these students home or restore their education, Pakistan risks losing another generation to systemic failure. The protests serve as a grim reminder that promises of development and international partnerships mean little when the basic rights and futures of young citizens are ignored.