Pakistan conducts scholarship entry tests for Afghan students

The merit-based scholarships for Afghan students under HEC is a great initiative of the govt, says Pak envoy

KABUL:

The embassy of Pakistan conducted an entry test on Saturday for Afghan students under Allama Muhammad Iqbal Scholarship 2021 being offered by the Higher Education Commission (HEC) Pakistan.

The entry test was being held simultaneously in Kabul, Herat, Jalalabad, Kandhar and Mazar-e-Sharif to accommodate the majority of candidates.

Pakistan’s Ambassador to Afghanistan Mansoor Ahmad Khan remarked that the merit-based scholarships for the Afghan students under HEC is a great initiative of the government of Pakistan.

The ambassador further said that he is pleased to know that under Allama Muhammad Iqbal Scholarship, around 22,000 candidates are participating for 1,000 scholarships out of which 100 scholarships are reserved for female students. He appreciated the crucial role and support of HEC of Pakistan, higher education department of Afghanistan and embassy officials.

While talking to the participants he said that, in today’s era, nobody could deny the significance of higher education and hoped that lucky ones once selected would contribute in the development and progress of Afghanistan after completion of their studies.

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He also told the candidates that their valuable contribution to nation-building would also bring the people of both countries closer, which is also very important in the current scenario.

He expressed his views that under this scheme, scholarships are being offered for both public and private sector universities of Pakistan at graduate, Master and PhD level.

He further said that this scheme is providing a big opportunity to the Afghan students who desire to enhance their skills and contribute their roles in the prosperity and progress of the country.

Jahanzeb Khan, Project Director for Afghan Scholarship Programme, told the students that they would benefit the quality education being offered by the leading universities of Pakistan and ensured that HEC would fully look after all the successful candidates during their stay in the neighbouring country.

The ceremony was attended by the officials from Higher Education of Afghanistan, HEC Pakistan, embassy officials and others.