Pakistan HC Clarifies Equal Financial Support for Allama Iqbal Scholarship Students

Photo: Collected

Diplomatic Correspondent: The Pakistan High Commission in Dhaka has clarified that all qualifying students selected under the Allama Iqbal Scholarships will receive equivalent financial support, following media queries regarding differences in the disbursement arrangements for students admitted to Master's programmes at various universities in Pakistan.
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‎In a statement, the High Commission said the modalities for disbursing financial support to Master's students may differ from those applicable to undergraduate students. However, it emphasized that all qualifying students under the scholarship programme would receive equivalent financial support.
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‎The Allama Iqbal Scholarship programme is a key component of the Pakistan-Bangladesh Knowledge Corridor, a flagship initiative announced by Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Muhammad Ishaq Dar during his visit to Dhaka in August 2025. The initiative aims to strengthen educational cooperation and promote people-to-people contacts between Pakistan and Bangladesh.
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‎According to the High Commission, the programme is making progress towards its objectives. A total of 74 Bangladeshi students joined top-ranking universities in Pakistan last year as part of the first batch.
‎For the second batch, more than 3,000 students appeared in the admission test. Among them, 125 students qualified for undergraduate programmes, 22 for Master's programmes and 14 for PhD programmes.
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‎The High Commission said all selected students are expected to join their respective universities in Pakistan shortly after completing the necessary formalities.
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‎“We remain committed to strengthening our cooperation with the brotherly nation of Bangladesh across all domains, including education and people-to-people exchanges,” the Pakistan High Commission said.