Pakistani students heading to Chinese universities are stuck at the Sost border crossing in Pakistan-occupied Gilgit-Baltistan after a traders’ sit-in halted immigration services at this key China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) gateway. The blockage has left dozens stranded for two days, turning what should have been a quick trip into a major headache.
These students had already bought tickets and nailed down their visas, but now they’re facing big risks to their studies and wallets. With university registration deadlines closing in fast, many worry they’ll miss out on classes and lose their spots entirely.
“We’ve been waiting here for two days. Our university deadline is so close, and this is causing us huge problems,” one student shared.
Another added, “I have to leave tomorrow no matter what. If this doesn’t get fixed, my visa will expire, and I don’t know what I’ll do.”
The group fears wasting an entire academic year. “Our registration cuts off on the 20th. If we don’t make it, they’ll cancel our admission,” one explained. “We’ve even booked train tickets inside China, and if those go to waste, we’ll have to pay for new ones. Finding seats last-minute is basically impossible.”
On top of that, the delay means extra costs for hotel stays while they wait for the border to reopen. Visa expiration adds even more pressure. “My visa only has one month left. If I can’t cross now, my ticket and a whole year of school will be down the drain,” said a student from Gujranwala who’s been studying in China for the past year.
The stranded students are calling on the Pakistani government to step in quickly, sort out the issues with the protesting traders, and get immigration services back up and running at the Sost border. “Our classes have already started. We urge the government to hear the protesters and solve this so we don’t have to pay the price,” one pleaded.
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