10% drop in Pakistani students at US schools

NEW DELHI: Pakistan sent approximately 7,300 students to American universities last year, a 10 percent drop from the year before, according to a study released on Wednesday.

The study conducted by the New York-based Institute of International Education attributed the decline to difficulties in getting student visas.

News reports have said post-9/11 security concerns have slowed inflow of students from Islamic countries.

While Pakistan ranked 17th in the list of countries sending students to the United States, India came first, with enrolment at American universities doubling over the last five years. China accounted for the second largest number of foreign students in the 2003-04 academic year.

India sent 80,000 students, while China sent about 62,000. South Korea, Japan, Canada and Taiwan ranked third, fourth, fifth and sixth, respectively, in total enrollment, the study said. ap

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