Islamabad, August 11, 2026: Pakistan and the United States have renewed their higher education cooperation through a fresh five-year agreement between the Higher Education Commission (HEC) and the United States Educational Foundation in Pakistan (USEFP).
The renewed Fulbright-HEC partnership reaffirms the two countries’ commitment to academic standards, human capital development, research and international educational collaboration.
According to the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training, the agreement has been renewed as part of continuing efforts led by Minister of State for Federal Education and Professional Training Wajiha Qamar to strengthen Pakistan-US educational cooperation, institutional linkages and opportunities for Pakistani students, scholars, faculty members and professionals.
A key development under her leadership has been the revival and activation of the Pakistan-US Higher Education Working Group after nearly 14 years. The working group has provided an institutional forum for sustained engagement on higher education, scholarships, academic mobility, skills development, research collaboration and other areas of mutual interest.
The ministry said the renewed Fulbright-HEC arrangement is an important outcome of the renewed momentum in educational engagement between the two countries.
The agreement will cover Financial Year 2026-27 through Financial Year 2031-32 and includes the Fulbright Master’s and PhD programmes, the Visiting Scholar Programme for post-doctoral scholars, the Foreign Language Teaching Assistant (FLTA) Programme and the Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Programme.
Under the arrangement, the programme aims to support 66 PhD scholars during the five-year period. Other programme streams will continue to provide additional opportunities for Pakistani scholars and academics to pursue advanced education, carry out research, strengthen professional expertise and contribute to Pakistan’s socio-economic and institutional development after returning home.
As part of the financial commitment, HEC will provide at least $4.54 million annually, while the total funding commitment has been capped at Rs6.48 billion over five years.
The agreed payment schedule provides for $2 million by June 30, another $2 million by January 31 and the remaining balance by April 30, subject to the timely release of government funds. Any interest earned on HEC funds held by USEFP will be reinvested in student grants.
The selection process will remain strictly merit-based, with no fixed quotas for any group, region or category. HEC will directly participate in selection panels and help identify priority fields of study in line with Pakistan’s national development and strategic priorities.
The ministry said this mechanism would keep the programme aligned with emerging national needs while maintaining academic merit, transparency and inclusivity.
A Joint Review Committee comprising representatives of the partner institutions will meet twice a year to review programme performance and impact. USEFP will also provide HEC with annual audited financial statements, while relevant records will remain available for HEC review upon reasonable notice.
The renewed partnership also covers cooperation beyond scholarships. HEC and USEFP will undertake joint visibility and awareness activities across Pakistan, using HEC’s network of higher education institutions to improve outreach and awareness about international academic opportunities.
The agreement also allows both sides to explore future collaboration in faculty and administrator exchanges and other academic and educational initiatives.
The new arrangement builds on the original Fulbright-HEC PhD partnership signed in February 2016, under which $25.786 million was committed to support 125 Pakistani scholars during FY 2016-20.
That initiative followed high-level engagement between Pakistan and the United States, including the October 2015 meeting between then US President Barack Obama and Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, and was linked to the US-Pakistan Knowledge Corridor launched in June 2015.
The renewed agreement marks the third phase of Fulbright-HEC collaboration and another milestone in a partnership between HEC and USEFP that has developed over the past decade.
The ministry said the collaboration has helped strengthen Pakistan’s academic and research capacity, develop highly qualified human capital and promote educational and people-to-people ties between Pakistan and the United States.
The signing ceremony for the renewed agreement was rescheduled from its original date after the passing of the father of USEFP Executive Director Dr Peter Moran. The Government of Pakistan, the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training, HEC and other stakeholders associated with the programme expressed condolences to Dr Moran and his family and conveyed solidarity with them.
The ministry also appreciated USEFP’s continued commitment to advancing the partnership despite these circumstances.
Minister of State Wajiha Qamar reaffirmed that education remains one of the strongest and most enduring bridges between Pakistan and the United States. She emphasised that the revival of the Pakistan-US Higher Education Working Group and renewal of the Fulbright-HEC partnership show both countries’ resolve to turn dialogue into long-term outcomes for students, scholars, universities and institutions.
The Government of Pakistan said it remains committed to expanding access to quality higher education, strengthening research and innovation, developing a globally competitive and skilled workforce and building meaningful international academic partnerships.
Under Ms Qamar’s leadership, the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training will continue to advance Pakistan-US educational cooperation and translate institutional partnerships into practical opportunities for Pakistan’s youth and academic community.
The renewed Fulbright-HEC agreement, the ministry said, reflects these priorities and highlights the continuing role of educational diplomacy in promoting mutual understanding, knowledge exchange, human capital development and shared progress between Pakistan and the United States.
