Pak scholarships expand study opportunities
Pakistan on Monday launched the second phase of the Allama Muhammad Iqbal Scholarships under the Pakistan-Bangladesh Knowledge Corridor at Education Expo 2026 in Dhaka, aiming to strengthen educational cooperation through scholarships, academic exchanges, and institutional collaboration.
The Expo, organised by the Pakistan High Commission in Bangladesh in collaboration with the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan, brought together representatives from 20 leading Pakistani universities and institutions to present scholarship opportunities and higher education programmes
for Bangladeshi students.
Speaking at the inauguration, Education Minister ANM Ehsanul Hoque Milon commended Pakistan’s fully funded scholarship programme and described the initiative as a potential avenue to deepen bilateral relations.
“This new corridor is opening. The relationship between Pakistan and Bangladesh will take a new space,” he said, highlighting shared cultural, religious, and culinary traditions.
The minister noted that 74 Bangladeshi students had already participated in the first phase of the programme and expressed hope that they were benefiting from their academic experiences.
Referring to the monthly stipend under the scheme, he jokingly remarked that Pakistani authorities were “spoiling” students by providing around Tk 40,000 a month without requiring part-time work.
Milon also indicated that Bangladesh might, in the future, offer reciprocal scholarships to Pakistani students and emphasised the importance of student and teacher exchange programmes.
He welcomed proposals for joint degree initiatives and praised the competitive selection process, in which students are chosen through examinations rather than nominations.
“Students have the opportunity to study abroad in Pakistan without any expenses,” he said, adding that the Ministry of Education would support the organisation of examinations and facilitate the programme.
Pakistan High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Imran Haider, said the scholarship programme reflects the shared commitment of both governments to education and youth empowerment.
He recalled that 500 scholarships were announced during a high-level visit in 2025 and said the second phase would be implemented through a series of education expos across Bangladesh.
“Pakistan and Bangladesh share a unique bond deeply rooted in history, common faith, cultural affinities and familial ties,” Haider said.
He noted that bilateral trade has increased by more than 20 per cent in recent years, alongside growing people-to-people and cultural exchanges.
According to the envoy, 74 Bangladeshi students are currently studying at leading Pakistani universities in disciplines including engineering, information technology, artificial intelligence, nanotechnology, medicine, social sciences, and management sciences.
The scholarships cover tuition fees, accommodation, monthly stipends, settlement allowances, and return airfare, enabling students to study in Pakistan free of cost.
Fatema Ekram, Director General (Scholarships) at the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan, said that Pakistan currently hosts students from Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh and expressed hope for a significant increase in Bangladeshi enrolment this year.
During the first phase, 1,445 online applications were received, 587 students sat for screening tests, and 74 were selected.
The second phase will again include screening tests in different cities across Bangladesh, with all expenses-including tuition, accommodation, and airfare-covered by the programme.
The scholarships are available in fields such as engineering, information technology, medicine, health sciences, agriculture, physical sciences, social sciences, and humanities.
Following the Dhaka Expo, similar events will be held in Barishal (12 May), Rajshahi (14 May), Sylhet (17 May), Chittagong (18 May), and Begum Rokeya University (20 May) to encourage greater student participation nationwide.
The Pakistan-Bangladesh Knowledge Corridor was initiated following the visit of Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Senator Muhammad Ishaq Dar, to Bangladesh in August 2025, during which the 500 scholarships were announced. Education Secretary Abdul Khaleque, representatives of the Pakistan Higher Education Commission, and senior officials of the University Grants Commission also attended the event.
