ISLAMABAD: The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Mission Director, Kate Somvongsiri, accompanied by the Executive Director of the Pakistan Higher Education Commission, Aayesha Ikram, awarded scholarships to 112 outstanding Pakistani undergraduate students in Sindh.
These US scholarships, provided through the USAID’s Merit and Needs-based Scholarship Program (MNBSP), aim to assist students who were impacted by the devastating floods of the previous year. These scholarships will enable these students to complete their degree programs at six universities in Sindh, as mentioned in a press release.
Mission Director Somvongsiri expressed the significance of higher education, emphasizing how it allows students from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds to expand their knowledge and enhance their career prospects. She highlighted the USAID’s commitment to supporting high-achieving students in realizing their academic and professional aspirations, thereby nurturing them to become Pakistan’s future leaders.
Executive Director Ikram of the Higher Education Commission lauded the support of the United States in advancing higher education in Pakistan. She particularly noted that over 50% of the scholarships from this program are awarded to young women. She also underlined the longstanding 75-year legacy of positive collaboration between the United States and Pakistan in the field of higher education.
The MNBSP, funded by USAID and established as a partnership between the Higher Education Commission and 30 Pakistani universities, offers university scholarships to students pursuing degrees at selected Pakistani universities. These scholarships cover various expenses, including tuition, housing, textbooks, and a food stipend. Since its inception in 2004, the program has awarded scholarships to more than 6,000 high-achieving students hailing from low-income families across Pakistan.
