Islamabad: Pakistan's Special Representative for Afghanistan, Mohammad Sadiq, has announced the launch of the third phase of the "Allama Iqbal" scholarships for Afghan students. This initiative will provide educational opportunities for 4,500 Afghan students in Pakistani universities over the next three years.
In a statement shared late Friday January 10, on his social media platform, Sadiq revealed that 33% of these scholarships are reserved for female students.
The scholarships cover a range of academic fields, including medicine, engineering, agriculture, and postgraduate studies at the master's and doctorate levels. The decision was made during the "Afghanistan and Central Asia Intergovernmental Meeting," chaired by Mohammad Sadiq.
He further explained, "This month, 22,000 applicants will participate in an online test, after which final interviews will be conducted to select the candidates." The selection process is expected to be completed within 45 days.
Sadiq described the initiative as one of the best educational programs abroad for Afghan youth, providing significant opportunities for higher education.
This is not the first time Pakistan has extended scholarships to Afghan students. Under the "Allama Iqbal" program, thousands of scholarships were offered in two previous phases. In 2023, the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan also announced 4,500 scholarships for Afghan students to study in Pakistani institutions.
This scholarship program continues to strengthen educational ties between Pakistan and Afghanistan, providing Afghan students with access to quality education in a wide range of disciplines.
