Former Punjab Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Sunil Jakhar on Friday, 31 July called on the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) to urgently intervene after recent changes to Canada's Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) regulations left hundreds of Indian students — a large proportion of them from Punjab — facing the prospect of deportation. Jakhar warned that the policy shift has inflicted severe financial and psychological distress on affected families who had invested lakhs of rupees based on rules that were in force at the time of enrolment.

What Changed in Canada's PGWP Rules

The Canadian government recently revised its PGWP eligibility framework, altering the conditions under which international graduates can obtain work authorisation after completing their studies. Students who enrolled in Canadian colleges and universities under the earlier policy now find themselves ineligible or at risk under the revised norms. According to Jakhar, these individuals and their families made significant financial commitments — running into lakhs of rupees — on the basis of the policy that existed at the time of admission, making the sudden regulatory shift particularly damaging.

Jakhar's Appeal to the MEA

In a formal statement, Jakhar urged the Ministry of External Affairs to immediately raise the matter with the Canadian government through diplomatic channels. He argued that while sovereign nations retain the right to revise domestic policy, such changes should not be applied retroactively in ways that punish students who enrolled in good faith. “Appropriate relief or a transitional arrangement should be provided for these students to ensure they are not subjected to unfair treatment,” he said.

Impact on Punjab Students and Families

The affected students are described as being in a state of deep uncertainty and severe mental distress, with many belonging to middle-class Punjab families who stretched their finances to fund overseas education. Jakhar characterised Indian students abroad as “a valuable part of the nation’s human capital,” arguing that protecting their interests is a shared national responsibility. This comes amid a broader period of tension in India-Canada diplomatic relations, which has already complicated consular and immigration processes for Indian nationals in Canada.

Broader Context: India-Canada Ties Under Strain

The PGWP controversy surfaces at a sensitive moment. India-Canada relations have been under strain following a series of diplomatic disputes in recent years, raising questions about the responsiveness of bilateral channels to resolve student welfare issues. Notably, Punjab is one of the largest source states for Indian students in Canada, making any adverse immigration policy change there disproportionately felt in the region. Advocacy groups and student unions have previously flagged the vulnerability of international students to mid-course policy changes that leave them with limited legal recourse.

What Happens Next

Jakhar has expressed confidence that the Government of India will engage with Ottawa at the earliest and secure meaningful relief for the affected students. The MEA has not yet issued a formal response to his appeal. Diplomatic engagement, if initiated, is expected to seek either a grandfathering clause for students admitted under the old PGWP rules or a structured transitional pathway to regularise their status.