October 28, 2020
Pakistan embassy at Kabul, recently conducted a pre-orientation ceremony for freshly enrolled Afghan students, across various Pakistani universities. The newly inducted students would be coming to Pakistan under Allama Iqbal scholarship scheme, offering scholarships to over 800 Afghan students this year. The occasion was graced by the presence of Pakistan’s Ambassador to Afghanistan – Mansoor Ahmed Khan and Afghanistan’s Minister for Higher Education – Dr. Abbas Basir, who was the chief guest at the occasion.
The scholarships for which around 16,000 Afghans applied are categorized as; 800 scholarships for undergraduates, 150 for Masters and 50 for PhD. The scholarship scheme has offered 100 exclusive seats reserved only for females. Pakistan’s Ambassador highlighted the significant role that such scholarships schemes have offered to the Afghans in their national development as manifested in the form of 50,000 Afghans educated till now in Pakistan and serving their homeland in various capacities.
At the occasion, Afghanistan’s Higher Education Minister emphasized Afghan youth for availing such an opportunity that can be best utilized along with the liberal terms for the student visa, under Pakistan’s new liberal visa regime for Afghan students. Afghan Studies Center – the sister organization of Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS), has always raised the voice for the concerns of the Afghan students and the need for facilitating them throughout their stay in Pakistan on student visa. The allotment of female quota for female students comes with the realization of nearly half of the Afghan population comprising of women, which needs to be extended further for the progressive future of Afghanistan.
The education diplomacy extended by Islamabad towards Kabul would help in bringing the youth of two countries together as the duo are moving towards enhancing their bilateral relationship.
The Report is compiled by Tooba Altaf, a Researcher at Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS), Islamabad.
© Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) and Afghan Studies Center (ASC), Islamabad.
