ISLAMABAD: Resource constraint has prevented the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan from sending abroad on scholarship more than 550 qualified candidates who are waiting for the last three years after completing the selection process.

According to sources, these candidates have qualified for studies on scholarships in countries like France, Germany, Sweden, Norway, Holland, the Netherlands, New Zealand, South Korea and Canada. They were selected after passing the NTS (National Testing Service) and the GRE (Graduate Record Examination) tests and other tests for these scholarships as required by the HEC.

The sources confirmed to The News that lack of funds for was the only reason why these candidates had not been sent abroad yet. Normally, the whole process should not take more that a year.

Sajid Khan, a candidate who has been qualified for MS leading to PhD in Batch-II, said: “I have passed all the tests and interviews and my language test, which was to take place in January 2010 was cancelled and the HEC has failed to tell us the exact status of our scholarships.”

The HEC authorities say they have no funds to send the students aboard for higher studies although US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, during her last visit to Pakistan, had announced $4 million dollar donation to the HEC.

Adviser Human Resource Department (HRD), Dr. Riaz Qureshi of the HEC told The News: “This is not a dead case and is in process. As far as the delay in the departure of these students is concerned, there are a number of issues and problems in the countries they have applied for.The News