ISLAMABAD, APR 7 /DNA/ – The Higher Education Commission (HEC) Pakistan held the first meeting of the Project Steering Committee on the Allama Muhammad Iqbal Scholarship Programme at the Commission Secretariat on Tuesday.
Chairman HEC Dr. Niaz Ahmad Akhtar chaired the meeting, while Executive Director HEC Dr. Zia Ul Haq, Vice Chancellor Beaconhouse National University Mr. Moeed Yusuf, former Ambassador Mansoor Ahmed Khan, and representatives of key stakeholder organisations, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Economic Affairs Division, and Planning Commission, attended the meeting.
Project Director Allama Muhammad Iqbal Scholarship Programme Mr. Jahanzeb Khan briefed the participants on the project background and its current status and progress. It was highlighted that the first phase of the project for Bangladesh, under the Pakistan-Bangladesh Knowledge Corridor, was launched in November 2025.
The committee was informed about the proposed launch of the second phase of the project, targeting Central Asian and other friendly countries. The committee discussed in detail the allocation of scholarships for Central Asian and friendly countries; the selection of two additional countries for organising education expos; the nominations from friendly countries for executive leadership training; the inclusion of MS level scholarships; and an increase in the number of scholarships for Bangladeshi students in subsequent phases of the project.
The Chairman HEC directed that the scholarship scheme be announced online for all Central Asian and friendly countries with the number of scholarships to be allocated based on the applications received. It was further decided that countries for education expos would be selected from among Central Asian and friendly countries. The committee highly appreciated the launch of Pakistan Bangladesh Knowledge Corridor and endorsed the inclusion of MS level scholarships, in addition to increase in the number of scholarships for Bangladeshi students per year. The committee also endorsed the proposed executive leadership training programme for Central Asian and friendly countries to be coordinated through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The Chairman HEC underlined the need for extending all possible facilitation to the international students and addressing their issues through appropriate forums.
