Written by: Shaharyar Ahmed
Posted on: June 04, 2019 | 
| 中文
Eid prayers at NiuJie Mosque
Long gone are the days when young aspiring Pakistani students looked to the West for higher education. With a shift in power from the West to the East, young students are now turning their attention to the next emerging power of the world: China. Currently, more than 25000 Pakistani students are seeking education in various fields of science and technology, and one of these students is Bilal Hassan (BH), a masters’ degree holder in electrical engineering, currently pursuing his doctorate degree in Electrical Engineering from Beihang University, Beijing. Shaharyar Ahmed (SA) from Youlin Magazine reached out to him, to learn about his experiences in China.
SA: Please tell me about your first Eid experience outside of Pakistan.
BH: Living in another country, especially when family members are only seen over WeChat, Skype or Facebook, it’s always difficult to control your emotions on these occasions. I remember the joy I used to feel on Eid days back in Pakistan, where the celebrations would begin late at night. We used to go out in busy markets for eating and shopping on Eid. However, Eid is still Eid.
Last year, me and my wife woke up in the morning and wore traditional Pakistani shalwar kameez, to go say Eid prayers at the famous Niujie Mosque, which is the biggest and oldest mosque in Beijing. Once there, we were amazed to see the arrangements made by the Beijing Government for this festival. It was a wonderful gathering where we saw hundreds of fellow Muslims. After praying, we greeted each other and gossiped for a while. A lot of food stalls had been set up where we ate some snacks.
We also invited other Pakistani families over for brunch, and my wife cooked special Pakistani dishes for them. In the evening, we went on the streets to enjoy the hustle and bustle of Beijing. I would say that our Eid day wasn’t as lonely as I thought it would be.
This Eid, me and my wife woke up in the morning and wore traditional Pakistani shalwar kameez, to go say Eid prayers at the famous Niujie Mosque, which is the biggest and oldest mosque in Beijing. Once there, we were amazed to see the arrangements made by the Beijing Government for this festival. It was a wonderful gathering where we saw hundreds of fellow Muslims. After praying, we greeted each other and gossiped for a while. A lot of food stalls had been set up where we ate some snacks.
We also invited other Pakistani families over for brunch, and my wife cooked special Pakistani dishes for them. In the evening, we went on the streets to enjoy the hustle and bustle of Beijing. I would say that our Eid day wasn’t as lonely as I thought it would be.
SA: Generally, how has life been in China and what prompted you to choose it as a study destination?
BH: Well, my wife and I both applied to different countries for pursing a doctorate degree. However, we were lucky enough to get our admissions on full scholarship in China. It has been almost a year now since we came to China and the overall experience has been fantastic. We were concerned about facilities like halal food and mosques; however, our perception changed as soon as we came here. We can find so many mosques and there are surplus halal food chains inside Beijing, where you can enjoy Chinese as well as other cuisines. The attitude of the people is very friendly towards foreigners, especially Pakistanis. I remember asking someone for directions, and the guy literally walked with me to the place I needed to go to. The language barrier is obviously an issue, but they have developed many translation applications that one can easily use. I am also impressed by the electronic cash transfer system, where our mobile phones act as wallets. Everywhere you go, they accept payments through WeChat and AliPay. Even street vendors accept mobile payments without any hesitation. Moreover, I also like the experience of online shopping where people use websites such as TaoBao or JD.
Communication was an issue when I came; especially since majority of the social networking sites that people use outside of China are blocked. I’ve had my family and close friends download WeChat, so we can remain in constant contact. It’s the most reliable form of communication in China, and allows for voice and video calls. However, this issue comes as a blessing in disguise. You meet new people and you find new ways to enjoy yourself, which wouldn’t be possible if you remained in your comfort zone.
SA: In terms of finances, how is life as a student in Beijing?
BH: I would say it all depends! I am here on a full scholarship from the Chinese government which covers tuition fee, accommodation, living allowance, medical service and comprehensive insurance, so it’s not that difficult to manage finances. Although Beijing is an expensive city in terms of housing, but the rest of expenditure is quite reasonable. Beijing has an excellent public transport infrastructure, making it convenient to travel around the city at affordable rates. There are many halal food chains around Beijing for Muslims to enjoy Chinese delicacies. Another good thing about Beijing is that almost all universities have an on-campus Muslim mess, where one can enjoy a good meal at discounted rates.
SA: What are the career prospects of your current degree over here and in Pakistan? Are the Pakistani or Chinese governments facilitating students in this regard?
BH: There are many career fairs organized by Chinese government for Chinese and international students every year. Many Chinese companies operating all over the world like Lenovo, Alibaba, Tencent, etc take part in these fairs. Huawei and ZTE are the two main telecom companies operating in China, with a significant presence in Pakistan. These companies conduct their recruitment drives annually for placements of graduate students in their home countries. I have attended these fairs and recruitment drives, and believe I have a good chance of getting an attractive job after the completion of my degree.
SA: The China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is said to be a game-changer for Pakistan. How do you think students studying in China can contribute to CPEC?
BH: After the launch of CPEC, there are more job opportunities, with a heavy influx of Chinese companies coming to Pakistan. CPEC is a framework of regional connectivity which has improved power and transportation systems with frequent and free exchanges of growth and people-to-people contact. Before the launch of CPEC, Pakistanis weren’t aware of Chinese education system and they mostly came here for medical degrees. However, post CPEC, Pakistani people from all walks of life are coming here. Furthermore, the demand of Pakistani professionals who have both technical expertise and proficient Chinese language skills is rapidly increasing. The CPEC portal reported in 2017 that the largest transportation project under CPEC, the 392 km long Multan-Sukkur Section, would create about 9800 jobs. I feel that people who can speak Chinese, and have first-hand experience of living in China, will have an edge in terms of employment.
Bilal Hassan is one of many students hoping to gain maximum benefit from CPEC, by studying in China. It is the responsibility of the Pakistani and Chinese government to establish policies and incentives to aid these students in CPEC projects. Bilal, like many other Pakistani students, getting education and training in China, wishes to come back and serve his home country after the completion of his degree.
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