Islamabad, Dec 13: In a bid to strengthen educational ties between Pakistan and Bangladesh, the government of Pakistan has announced the launch of the Pakistan-Bangladesh Friendship Scholarship Programme, which will offer 300 fully funded scholarships to Bangladeshi students.
This initiative, discussed in a meeting at the Ministry of Education on Thursday, is designed to encourage academic collaboration and enhance mutual understanding between the two nations.
The scholarships will cover various fields of study, including engineering, medicine, social sciences, arts, humanities, business education, computer science, agriculture, and more. This program is being facilitated through a consortium of top Pakistani universities, such as the International Islamic University Islamabad, National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), COMSATS University, and others.
The meeting, chaired by Secretary of Education Mohyuddin Ahmad Wani, was attended by key figures including Prof. Dr. Ziaul Qayyum, Executive Director of the Higher Education Commission (HEC), and representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Pakistani High Commission in Bangladesh. The initiative follows a similar scholarship program that Pakistan has already launched for students from Afghanistan and Sri Lanka.
In an effort to maximize the program’s outreach, the Secretary of Education recommended that partner universities organize educational expos, seminars, and roadshows in Bangladesh, and also launch an online portal dedicated to the scholarships. The HEC Executive Director emphasized the importance of quick approvals from universities for fee waivers and sponsorships to facilitate the scholarship allocation.
The scholarships are expected to further enhance the educational ties between the two countries, with a focus on fostering regional cooperation and goodwill through educational diplomacy.
