The federal government of Pakistan and the United States have extended their longstanding collaboration in higher education through a new five-year agreement between the Higher Education Commission (HEC) and the United States Educational Foundation in Pakistan (USEFP). This renewal highlights their mutual dedication to academic excellence, human capital development, and international educational cooperation.
The Ministry of Education and Professional Training has welcomed the agreement, which covers the period from Financial Year 2026–27 to Financial Year 2031–32. The renewed partnership will support various programs, including the Fulbright Master’s and PhD initiatives, the Visiting Scholar Programme for post-doctoral researchers, the Foreign Language Teaching Assistant (FLTA) Programme, and the Hubert H Humphrey Fellowship Programme.
Over the five years, the program aims to support 66 PhD scholars, alongside opportunities available through the other educational streams. This initiative continues to provide Pakistani scholars and academics with chances to pursue advanced degrees, conduct research, enhance professional skills, and contribute to Pakistan’s socio-economic progress upon their return.
Financially, the HEC commits to allocating at least $4.54 million annually, with total funding capped at Rs6.48 billion throughout the agreement’s duration. The payment schedule includes $2 million by June 30, another $2 million by January 31, and the remaining balance by April 30, contingent on the timely release of government funds. Any interest accrued on HEC funds managed by USEFP will be reinvested into student grants, further supporting the partnership’s educational goals.
The selection process will remain strictly merit-based, without fixed quotas for any group, region, or category. HEC will actively participate in selection panels and help identify priority fields aligned with Pakistan’s national development and security objectives. This collaborative approach ensures the program addresses emerging national needs while maintaining high standards of academic merit and transparency.
To enhance oversight and evaluate the program’s impact, a Joint Review Committee with representatives from both partner institutions will convene twice annually. USEFP will provide HEC with audited financial statements each year, and relevant records will be available for HEC review upon reasonable notice, reinforcing transparency, accountability, and sound financial governance.
Beyond scholarships, the renewed partnership envisions broader cooperation. HEC and USEFP plan to undertake joint visibility and awareness campaigns throughout Pakistan, leveraging HEC’s extensive network of higher education institutions to increase outreach and awareness of international academic opportunities. The agreement also opens possibilities for future collaboration in faculty and administrator exchanges and other academic initiatives.
This new agreement builds upon the original Fulbright-HEC PhD partnership signed in February 2016, which committed $25.786 million to support 125 Pakistani scholars during Financial Years 2016 to 2020.
