ISLAMABAD: The United States inaugurated a new purpose-built headquarters for the United States Educational Foundation in Pakistan (USEFP) this week, as American officials reported an 18% rise in Pakistani students studying in the US, despite the suspension of a major undergraduate exchange scheme earlier this year.

The launch comes as the Fulbright program completes 75 years in Pakistan, the world’s largest US-funded scholarship portfolio for master’s and PhD study. Officials said growing student mobility and stable visa issuance reflect continued academic engagement between the two countries, even after the UGRAD exchange program was paused in April.

USEFP Executive Director Peter Moran told Arab News that Pakistani students are still securing visas without unusual difficulty and enrollment levels remain strong.

“We are not finding that Pakistani students are facing undue difficulties getting their visas when they want to go and study on their own. The number of Pakistani students who are studying in the United States, actually based on data from the year before last, because you know there’s always a lag, it’s up 18%,” Moran said, citing 2023 figures.

He said nearly 10,000 Pakistanis are currently enrolled in US institutions, including self-funded students. While UGRAD, which previously sent 100–130 undergraduates per year, remains paused under US budget adjustments, Moran said there is hope it will return.

“So, the UGRAD program for now is on pause ... the UGRAD program sent undergraduate, actually high school students. That program ended in April. We don’t know when that will come back, but we sure hope that it will.”

USEFP clarified that no reductions have been applied to graduate programs.

“There is no cut on Fulbright… and we don’t anticipate there being any,” Moran added.

Around 65 Pakistani scholars left for the US through Fulbright this year, another 10–12 departed under the Humphrey Fellowship, and USEFP expects next year’s Fulbright cohort to rise to 75–80.

The inauguration of the new headquarters brought together US officials, scholarship alumni and education leaders.

US Embassy Minister Counselor for Public Diplomacy Andy Halus said the new facility reflects the depth of the bilateral academic partnership.

“We have over 9,000 students in Pakistan that have had experience in the United States on the Fulbright programs that started 70 years ago. Our commitment to sending more and more students to the United States on the Fulbright program is strong and it’s going to continue.”

Among attendees was Fulbright alumnus Aftab Haider, the CEO of Pakistan Single Window, the government-backed digital trade clearance platform. He credited the scholarship with shaping his career:

“I am a very proud Fulbrighter from 2008. I think it is one of the most transformational programs that can be offered to young Pakistanis to have the opportunity to be educated abroad, come back to Pakistan and contribute in public service delivery as well as in enhancement of the private sector.”