Pakistan Offers 500 Scholarships for BD Students

Pakistan on Monday launched the second phase of the Allama Muhammad Iqbal Scholarships for Bangladeshi students through the inauguration of the Pakistan Education Expo 2026 in Dhaka, aiming to strengthen academic cooperation and people-to-people ties between the two countries.

The education expo, held at a hotel in the capital, was jointly organised by the Pakistan High Commission in Bangladesh and the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan. Representatives from 20 leading Pakistani universities and higher education institutions participated in the event, showcasing academic programmes, research opportunities and fully funded scholarships for students from Bangladesh.

The scholarship programme is being implemented under the Pakistan–Bangladesh Knowledge Corridor initiative, launched following the visit of Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Muhammad Ishaq Dar to Bangladesh in August last year. During the visit, Pakistan announced 500 scholarships for Bangladeshi students to pursue higher education in various disciplines.

Officials said the initiative reflects a growing commitment by both countries to expand cooperation in education, research, youth development and institutional partnerships.

Bangladesh Education Minister Dr. ANM Ehsanul Hoque Milon inaugurated the expo as the chief guest while senior officials from the Ministry of Education, vice-chancellors, principals of colleges and universities, representatives of Pakistani institutions, academics, journalists and hundreds of students attended the programme.

Speaking at the event, the education minister said the Pakistan–Bangladesh Knowledge Corridor would create fresh opportunities for academic collaboration, research exchange and higher education partnerships between the two nations.

He welcomed the scholarship initiative and said the opportunity for Bangladeshi students to study at reputed Pakistani universities under fully funded schemes would help students gain international academic exposure and strengthen regional educational cooperation.

Pakistan High Commissioner to Bangladesh Imran Haider described the initiative as a milestone in enhancing bilateral academic and cultural relations.

He said a number of Bangladeshi students had already begun studies at renowned Pakistani universities under the first phase of the programme, adding that educational exchanges could play a significant role in fostering mutual understanding and closer relations between the people of the two countries.

The  High Commissioner also emphasised the importance of academic mobility, joint research projects and institutional collaboration in building long-term partnerships between universities in Bangladesh and Pakistan.

According to organisers, the education expo received an enthusiastic response from students interested in pursuing undergraduate, postgraduate and research degrees in Pakistan.

To expand outreach beyond Dhaka, similar education expos will be held in several divisional cities across the country, including Barishal on May 12, Rajshahi on May 14, Sylhet on May 17, Chittagong on May 18 and Rangpur on May 20.

Organisers said the nationwide events are aimed at providing students from different regions with direct access to information on scholarships, admission procedures, academic programmes and student facilities offered by Pakistani universities.

The initiative has been widely viewed as an important step toward deepening educational cooperation and strengthening bilateral engagement between Bangladesh and Pakistan through youth and academic exchanges.