Pakistan has launched 4,500 scholarships for Afghan students aspiring to study diverse subjects from medicine and engineering to computer science at local universities as a goodwill gesture despite ongoing security issues and refugee crises between the two countries.
Pakistan introduced the Allama Iqbal Scholarship program for Afghan nationals in 2009 to strengthen bilateral ties between the two neighboring states. The program covers tuition fees, accommodation, and a monthly stipend for undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral studies at Pakistani universities.
Scholarship Levels:
- Undergraduate Level
- Graduate Level (MS/M.Phil.)
- PhD Level
The third phase of these scholarships was launched at the National University of Technology (NUTECH) in Islamabad on July 10, 2024. Higher Education Commission (HEC) Chairman Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed, Special Representative for Afghanistan Asif Durrani, and students from Afghanistan pursuing their zero semester at NUTECH and Fast University attended the event.
“Glad to launch the third phase of Allama Iqbal scholarships for Afghan students,” Asif Durrani, Pakistan’s Special Representative for Afghanistan, said in a social media post. “In the coming five years, 4500 Afghan students will pursue studies in social and natural sciences in various universities of Pakistan,” he added.
He extended his congratulations to the Afghan graduates and expressed hope that higher education would enable them to serve their nation effectively and take on diverse responsibilities.
Previously, Pakistan’s Ministry of Education awarded 6,000 scholarships to Afghan students during the first two phases.
These students graduated from 25 universities across Pakistan and received their Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in various disciplines, including medicine, engineering, agriculture, management and computer science.
Pakistan Allama Iqbal Scholarships for Afghan students
Pakistan’s Higher Education Commission (HEC) has announced the third phase of the Allama Muhammad Iqbal Scholarships Program for Afghan students (2023–2031). Over the next three years, 4,500 scholarships will be awarded to Afghan students to pursue undergraduate, master’s, or Ph.D. studies at leading professional institutes and universities in Pakistan. Details on eligibility criteria can be found here.
At least one-third of the scholarships will be reserved for female students. Pakistan has allocated Rs. 12.686 billion for this program. Annually, 30,000 Afghan students are expected to compete for 1,500 scholarships. The SOPs for the third round are currently being developed, and the program will be promoted in the coming weeks. After a hiatus last year, this year’s phase will offer an additional 1,500 scholarships. The application submission date will be announced soon.
The scholarship programs for Afghan students aim to offer quality education, establish professional linkages between the educational institutions of the two countries, promote human resource development for the reconstruction of Afghanistan and develop people-to-people contacts between the two neighboring countries.