Fulbright and Educational Exchanges
Overview
Pakistan's Fulbright programme, one of the largest in the world, was thrown into doubt in 2025 when the State Department froze exchange funding and the Global UGRAD undergraduate exchange was closed. In August 2026 Pakistan's Higher Education Commission and USEFP signed a five-year agreement to continue Fulbright and related programmes, with HEC committing at least $4.54 million a year.
Latest updates
Five-year HEC–USEFP agreement
HEC and USEFP signed an agreement covering FY2026–27 to FY2031–32 for Fulbright master's and PhD awards, visiting scholars, FLTA and Humphrey fellowships. (ProPakistani)
UGRAD closed, Fulbright in limbo
USEFP announced the closure of the Global UGRAD programme, while Fulbright remained in limbo after the State Department suspended exchanges run by its Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. (Dawn)
Recent developments
Exchanges have produced generations of Pakistani academics, officials and business leaders with ties to the United States. The shift towards Pakistani co-funding shows how the relationship is adjusting to reduced US spending on soft power.
Recommended resources
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Funding cut for UGRAD-Pakistan, which allowed students to spend a semester in US
via Dawn
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Fulbright program faces uncertainty after US state department cuts funds for exchange programs
via Aaj News
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Pakistan and US agree to extend Fulbright scholarship program
11 August 2026
via ProPakistani
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Pakistan, US renew landmark Fulbright-HEC partnership
via Pakistan Observer
