Fulbright: 189 Pakistani Students Receive US Scholarship

Fulbright is the United States Government's flagship scholarship, with operations in 160 countries. Pakistan has the world's largest Fulbright curriculum in terms of US government funding, with $18.44 million this year to support 189 students. This demonstrates the United States' commitment to cooperation with Pakistan, which is celebrating its 75th anniversary. The Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan also provides a significant number of Ph.D. scholarships.

189 students have been awarded the prestigious Fulbright Scholarship to pursue further studies and research at leading US universities in order to promote educational and cultural exchange between the United States (US) and Pakistan. The awardees will begin their higher education journey this fall at 82 universities in a variety of disciplines such as environmental studies, energy management, and social sciences.

The United States Educational Foundation in Pakistan (USEFP) hosted a two-day pre-departure orientation in Islamabad for this year's 189 students to prepare them for the journey, their exchange programs, life on university campuses, and American culture. Donald Blome, the US Ambassador to Pakistan, congratulated the grantees on their accomplishment.

“Pakistani Fulbrighters have solved social problems, written new laws, advanced policies to ensure equal access and voices to all, and so much more. They do this all for one purpose: to create a better, safer, and more prosperous Pakistan. In this goal, the United States and Pakistan are united,”

The scholarship covers travel, living expenses, health insurance, and tuition for the duration of the program. Since the program's inception in Pakistan in 1951, 4,100 Pakistanis have received the Fulbright scholarship to study, conduct research, exchange ideas, and contribute to the resolution of common international concerns. These scholarships have been awarded to 2,568 Pakistanis in the last two decades. When the Fulbright students return, they will join a community of over 32,000 Pakistanis who have participated in a US Government-sponsored exchange or English language program over the years.

Investing in education strengthens the bilateral relationship between the US Government and Pakistan. This includes thousands of merit and need-based scholarships for students to attend Pakistani universities; partnerships with 99 Pakistani universities to develop faculty and collaborate on research, such as green energy and climate resilience; and efforts with the Higher Education Commission to develop a new set of university English language courses.