Chandigarh, Aug. 8 -- The Punjab government on Friday said it would make every possible effort to safeguard the interests of Punjabi students affected by the ongoing post-study work permit crisis in Canada, with NRI affairs minister Dr Ravjot Singh announcing legal and diplomatic initiatives to support them.

Speaking during the zero hour on the fifth day of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha monsoon session, the minister said nearly 1,500 Punjabi students had been affected by the large-scale refusal of post-study work permits. He said the state government was closely monitoring the situation to understand the students' concerns and provide all possible assistance.

Singh said he has written to Union external affairs minister S Jaishankar, seeking a...