USEFP shipping review for cycle 2026 hoping to resume the program, but experts indicate that it seems unlikely.
• Financing Court for Ugra-Pakistan, which allowed students to spend a semester in the US.
• Applications for cycle 2026 already in; Academics currently in us do not get a complete stipend
• The president of Ama says that these students should be allowed to complete their studies
Washington / Islamabad: The freezing of Trump administration funds in almost all “non -essential” federal programs is threatening with the long -standing Fulbright scholarship program, which has given dozens of talented Pakistani students the opportunity to study in the best universities in the United States over the years.
On Tuesday, a formal announcement on the closure of a separate undergraduate exchange program, which has been happening for about 15 years, was also a blow to the ambitions of the students of the Pakistani students, who would have benefited from spending a semester in the best schools and universities of the United States.
Given for a long time as the jewel of the crown of the US-Pakistan exchanges, the Fulbright program has been in Limbo since February, when the State Department abruptly suspended all cultural and academic exchanges administered by its Office of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA).
The scholarship generally covers trips, living stipend, health insurance and registration for the entire study period of a student.
Initially described as a temporary freezing of 15 days, the suspension remains in place more than two months later, without an official explanation or a schedule for resumption.
The Institute of International Education (IIE), which manages the Fulbright program and other scholarships and scholarships administered by the ECO, had indicated last month that its employees were graduated.
Recent communications sent to Fulbright academics currently in the US.
Despite this, the United States Educational Foundation in Pakistan (USEFP) continued to accept requests for cycle 2026. Currently, the Foundation is reviewing the presentations with the hope that the program will resume, but experts indicate that this seems unlikely.
The Fulbright program had a particularly strong presence in Pakistan, offering financial support for master’s and doctoral programs, as well as a Fulbright Scholarship Extrace Language Teaching Teaching.
According to the United States Embassy in Islamabad, more than 4,000 Pakistani students have taken advantage of the Fulbright scholarship since it was launched in 1951.
“Since its inception, more than 9,300 Pakistani and more than 935 Americans have participated in exchange programs administered by USEFP,” according to the Embassy website.
Closed exchange program
Meanwhile, on Tuesday, the USEFP formally announced the closure of its Global Undergraduate Program, another program managed by the CEA that gave Pakistan students the opportunity to attend universities and universities in the United States for an academic study not twelve during a semester.
The sources said that every year, more than 100 Pakistani students took this opportunity in spring and autumn sessions.
“We regret informing him that after 15 incredible years, the Global Undergraduate Exchange Program for Pakistan has come to an end. The informed USEFP of the United States Department of the United States that the global Ugra-Pakistan program will no longer be offered. It will not be offered. We understand that this news can be disappointing, especially for those who requested this year and waited for this opportunity,” Usefp announced on their website and platforms of social networks.
Although no specific reason for the termination of the program was cited, USEFP recognized the disappointment that it can cause and encouraged students to explore other opportunities for exchange and scholarships.
Talk with SunriseThe president of the Higher Education Commission (HEC), Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed, described the program as “very useful” for Pakistani students.
“In my personal opinion, this should have continued … It was a very good program,” he said.
Academics who are already in us also worried
Dr. Mukhtar also recognized the reports that the students who were already studying in the United States under the Fulbright program also faced uncertainty.
“Since the fact does not have a direct link with the program, we have no exact information,” he said, adding that his office was still trying to obtain a clear image.
However, he said that students who are already in the United States should have the opportunity to complete their studies.
The lack of clarity of Washington has deepened anxieties, not only about the fate of the Fulbright program, but also about the broader environment for Pakistani students in the United States. Many now fear that visa restrictions, regulatory overreach and changing political attitudes threaten the future of academic mobility.
Several Pakistani students Sunrise He spoke as he said that even minor infractions, such as traffic violations or administrative delays, have led to visa complications. These problems are often discovered only when a student tries to re -enter the United States or requests work authorization.
In some cases, students lost their legal status without notification, since federal agencies no longer inform the universities of such changes.
“Now there is a constant fear,” said a student from an important university in the west. “He doesn’t know if a simple mistake will cost his title, his state or his future.”
These fears are particularly acute with the approach of summer holidays. Many students face a heartbreaking option: travel home to meet with the family and the risk of re -entry, or remain in the United States, isolated and uncertain on their legal basis.
According to recent data, around 11,000 Pakistani students enrolled in US institutions during academic year 2023–24, an increase of 16 percent compared to the previous year. Pakistan is now located as the 15th largest source of international students in the United States.
Posted in Dawn, April 9, 2025
Image of the heading: Pakistani students who will participate in Global Ugragra this year come from all regions of the country. – Photo courtesy: Embassy of the United States Pakistan Flickr/File
