Pakistan Launches Second Tranche of Allama Iqbal Scholarships for Afghan Students
In a significant step to strengthen educational ties and support Afghanistan’s youth, Pakistan announced the launch of the second tranche of the third phase of the Allama Iqbal Scholarships Programme. The initiative will provide 4,500 fully funded scholarships to Afghan students over the next three years.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!The scholarships are designed to offer educational opportunities in undergraduate, postgraduate, and PhD programs across diverse fields, including medicine, engineering, agriculture, and other disciplines. This program marks one of the most extensive foreign scholarship schemes offered to Afghan students.
The announcement came during a meeting of the Afghanistan Central Asia/Azerbaijan Inter-governmental Coordination Cell (ACICC), chaired by Pakistan’s Special Envoy for Afghanistan, Mohammad Sadiq. Highlighting the program’s significance, Sadiq described it as a cornerstone of Pakistan’s educational diplomacy with Afghanistan.
“This month, over 22,000 Afghan applicants will participate in an online test, followed by interviews for final selection. The entire process is set to conclude within 45 days,” said Sadiq.
Notably, 33% of the scholarships have been reserved for female students, emphasizing efforts to promote women’s education in Afghanistan. This measure is particularly significant given the Taliban’s ongoing restrictions on women’s access to higher education.
The meeting saw participation from Pakistan’s Higher Education Commission (HEC) Chairman Dr Mukhtar Ahmed, the country’s Ambassador to Afghanistan, and senior officials from various ministries and departments.
The Allama Iqbal Scholarships Programme, named after Pakistan’s national poet and philosopher, reflects the country’s commitment to fostering regional stability and empowering Afghan youth through education. As the initiative progresses, it is expected to play a vital role in shaping Afghanistan’s academic and professional future.
Related: Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan Sign MoU to Strengthen Cooperation in Higher Education
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