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Fulbright scholarships: US launches world’s largest programme in Pakistan
US Educational Fund for Pakistan to accept applications for the 2013 programme for Masters and PhD until May 16.
The United States Educational Foundation in Pakistan has announced the world’s largest Fulbright programme in Pakistan for the 2013.
ISLAMABAD: Amid strained ties and mutual mistrust, the United States Educational Foundation in Pakistan has announced the world’s largest Fulbright programme in Pakistan for the 2013.
The US government’s flagship scholarship programme awards deserving Pakistani students full scholarships that cover tuition, textbooks, airfare, a stipend, and health insurance to complete their Master’s or PhD degrees in a field of their choice in universities across the US. Currently, approximately 369 students are studying in the US on Fulbright awards and another 200 will be departing in the fall of 2012.
According to Ambassador Richard Hoagland, deputy chief of mission, Pakistan’s Fulbright programme is also one of the oldest in the world. “Our agreement initiating the programme was signed on September 23, 1950 – and the first Pakistanis and Americans travelled each way in the same year. It was one of the very first agreements of its kind and has since been extended to 155 countries around the world.”
Since then, nearly 4,000 Pakistanis and over 800 Americans have participated in USEFP-administered exchange programmes.
The deadline to apply for the 2013 programme is May 16, 2012, and the application form can be downloaded from the USEFP’s website www.usefpakistan.org.
Correction: An earlier version of this article incorrectly put the last date to apply as March 16. This is incorrect. The error is regretted.
Reader Comments (32)
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The deadline is May 16, according to their website. Kindly correct it.
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Thank you USA..
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I find it amazing how tolerant American’s are – they seem immune to the non stop derogatory rhetoric from Pakistan and still provide what might be an opportunity of a lifetime to your students. They even turn down qualified American’s because they have reserved slots for foreigner’s. Go figure.
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FB is funded under the aid package. Imran Khan will come to ruin it, since he says we are not a beggar country. What has he to loose? His Children will grow up to attend Oxford, those who benefit from FB are the poor and meritorious.
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the one thing i really appreciate about the US.
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errrm its May 16
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@Sajid:
LOL, so you think there are no other way to fund it except aid? like 8500 billion that could have been saved from corruption or budget.
Plus, do you really think that aid has no strings attached? ahem, your so simple my brother.
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@Pakistani Hindu:
bro why thank to USA…?????
WO HM SE KUCH BENEFIT LE RHE HY THEN HEME KUCH DE RHE HY…NOT SAY THANK TO USA…WE WANT TO TAKE PAKISTAN AT THE PEAK OF DEVELOPMENT WITH DIGNITY AND RESPECT..
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Fulbright equals brainwashing and recruitment of young Pakistanis into CIA to work against Pakistan.
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It is good that they are giving the scholarships but people don’t realize that what they truly are doing is called a ‘brain drain’ where the brightest Pakistanis move to the U.S. permanently giving Pakistan little or no benefit.
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@Cautious:
I am amused at your naive mindedness. The amount of damage done to us by them is far more than the peanut benefits we get in return. These students im sure will provided American nationality and thus causing brain drain in Pakistan. Grow up and smell the real coffee
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USA u can not win our hearts unless u treat us as an ally not as a slaveRecommend
@Ali
@Cautious: I am amused at your naive mindedness. The amount of damage done to us by them is far more than the peanut benefits we get in return. These students im sure will provided American nationality and thus causing brain drain in Pakistan. Grow up and smell the real coffee
Why don’t you email Dr Shamshad Akhtar and ask her opinion about the Fulbright scholarship progarm – she got a full boat ride to Harvard and returned to manage the State Bank of Pakistan. The Fulbright scholarship program is an outstanding benefit to those who are fortunate enough to be selected.Recommend
@ALI:
Your are responsible for damaging your own country not US. Your spy agency and army were in bed with American in Afghanistan in 1984. Now after having all that fun you are blaming US.
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@ALI: part of the stipulations of the fulbright scholarship is that you have to return home after your studies. there is no ‘american nationality’ and i am aware of no one who has stayed in the US on a fulbright after finishing their studies.
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At one one point in time, about 20 years ago, USAID had wound up everything and left Pakistan. There were no Fulbright or any scholarships available to Pakistanis. The US must see some benefits for its own in offering these scholaships.
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@K Mian Come on man, don’t be so irrational. Everything aside, this gesture is appreciable. We should thank US for this. One should say the right thing.
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@ALI: Yes ther was/is/and will be ‘brain drain’ What has Pakistan offererd to these bright students- terrorism. Mind you the so call ‘brain drain’ are pumping US$8-10 BILLION/year into Pakistan. Without their help, Pakistan would have been declared a bankrupt country in 2000.
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Fantastic news.. Lets take positive and not try to look for conspiracy and strings attached (sic) !!!!
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@Sajid Where does Imran Khan come into this discussion? Don’t be so illogical. Have you heard about NAMAL university? I wonder who founded it? Is it for rich kids? All poor kids can’t get FB but most of them can go to Namal. So, what you wrote is out of pure hatred, think about it before going to bed tonight….
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They are trying a damage-control bid. And it is bound to fail.
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wonderful news for the student who need to qualify for the bright future scholorship to the US. its very good oppurtunity for the needed student to make their future and for their family.
we hope shis scholoship will get the real needed student and this scholoship will provide for the needed students… we expect the relationship b/w USA and Pak become more stronger then before…
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Fulbright program does nothing for helping education in Pakistan. Huge sums of $ out of the USAID appropriated for Pakistan is used up each for a handful of students while 25 million children across Pakistan get ZERO education. USAID should have funded Basic Education programs in Pakistan to help Pakistan meet MDG 2015. Maybe it is too late for this.
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@Cautious: Fullbright is a soft diplomacy program and is not out of love for Pakistan. It has broader objectives of cultural exchange and soft power.University admissions go by merit and no nationals are turned down for foreigners! Diversity quota just pushes candidates from diverse backgrounds a little step above the equal competitors from mainstream, nothing significantly big.
@K Mian: Provide any proof for you claim of brainwashing! All fullbright students study as normal students and they do not go under any special training a.k.a brainwashing! Get your facts straight.
@ALI and @Bunty: FYI (in bold letters) Fullbright students go on J1 visa. They can not even get employment after education in USA let alone the nationality. All fullbrighters have to return to Pakistan for same amount of time they spent in USA. (2 or 5 yrs for masters or PhD). They can not get US work visa in those years. Please get your facts straight.So your brain drain mantra is totally busted.
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US provides the opportunity and our brightest takes it. Now if they stay in Amrreca or join CIA it’s a personal decision. As pakistanis are known to sell their soul for anything why blame them????
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Most of the students will obviously stay in the US and work there. US may have an agenda but they do the most for Pakistan.
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Even though this is brain drain I feel talented Pakistanis deserve to go out and see the world. If they are talented enough then they should take a chance and get further education in the world’s top institutes.
And everyone who is saying how USA is our enemy we must hate it etc. do not apply for this opportunity.
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Thank You USA for this. It’s a great program & facility for students from all backgrounds to get higher education at an excellent university free of charge!!
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Pakistani FullBright Scholars will take Full control of Dronee now.
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Good move…..
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Cannot thank you enough USA! Even though I was not selected for a fulbright, I am highly thankful for the opportunities you are giving to our students.
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thanks a lot for this scholarship for Pakistani students that they are able to study in UK
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