The United States Educational Foundation in Pakistan (USEFP) on Friday issued a press release clarifying the rumours regarding the suspension of Fullbright scholarship program in Pakistan after it announced the end of UGRAD semester exchange program earlier this week.
On April 8, USEFP released a shocking statement leading to disappointment of many young students. It stated that the US State Department has ordered the end of lobal Undergraduate Exchange (Global UGRAD) Pakistan Programme after 15 successful years.
The Fullbright masters or PhD scholarship programme remains one of the most prestigious scholarships in the country. After the UGRAD Pakistan was abolished, many potential applicants expressed fears about the future of Fullbright scholarship in Pakistan.
The Fullbright programme has faced confusion since February after the US State Department suddenly stopped all cultural and academic exchanges administered by its Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA).
In a statement released by USEFP, it stated, “A number of US government-funded exchange programmes remain in place and are available to Pakistanis, including the Fulbright Programme. Fulbright participants in the US continue to receive their stipends. Assertions that the Fulbright Programme has been terminated or that students will be left stranded in the US are false.”
“The US proudly hosts 11,000 Pakistani students at US universities and we encourage Pakistanis to continue to choose the US for higher education opportunities.”
It further stated that the 54 Pakistani students who are currently in the United Stated under the UGRAD programme would complete their programs and return to Pakistan according to plan.
“They have and will continue to receive their stipends and all benefits associated with the programme,” it added.
Read more: US abolishes Global UGRAD program for Pakistan after 15 years
