Diplomatic Correspondent

The Pakistan High Commission in Dhaka has clarified that all eligible Bangladeshi students selected for the Allama Iqbal Scholarships will receive equivalent financial support, following reports of disparities in assistance for students admitted to master’s programmes at various universities in Pakistan.

In a clarification issued on Thursday (September 17), the High Commission said the modalities for disbursing financial support to master’s students may differ from those applicable to undergraduate students. However, there would be no difference in the financial support provided to eligible students under the scholarship programme.

The High Commission said the modalities of disbursement for master’s students are being communicated to them and that all qualifying students will receive equivalent financial assistance.

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 promote educational cooperation and strengthen people-to-people contacts between Bangladesh and Pakistan.

According to the High Commission, the programme has already made significant progress towards its objectives. Last year, 74 Bangladeshi students joined top-ranking universities in Pakistan as part of the first batch.

For the second batch, more than 3,000 students appeared in the admission test. Of them, 125 qualified for undergraduate programmes, 22 for master’s programmes and 14 for PhD programmes.

All the selected students are expected to join their respective universities in Pakistan shortly after completing the necessary formalities, the High Commission said.

Reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to strengthening bilateral ties, the High Commission said it remained committed to expanding cooperation with Bangladesh in various fields, particularly education and people-to-people exchanges.

The scholarship initiative is being viewed as an important avenue for expanding educational links between the two countries and providing Bangladeshi students with opportunities to pursue higher education at Pakistani universities.