300 Afghan Students Graduate Under HEC’s Rs7.3 Billion Scholarship Scheme
— April 30, 2025
ISLAMABAD (AIA) The Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan held a graduation ceremony for 300 Afghan students under its ‘Allama Muhammad Iqbal 3000 Scholarships to Afghan Students (Prime Minister’s Directive) – Phase II’ at the Institute of Management Sciences (IMSciences), Peshawar.
Distinguished guests at the ceremony included Dr Jamil Ahmad, Member (IT) HEC; Ambassador (R) Mohammad Sadiq, the Prime Minister’s Special Representative for Afghanistan; Mohibullah Hafiz, Consul General at the Afghan Consulate in Peshawar; Engr Muhammad Raza Chohan, Adviser (HRD) HEC; Zeeshan Khan, Project Director (HRD) HEC; and Prof Dr Usman Ghani, Director of IMSciences, according to a press release issued on Wednesday.
Dr Ghani delivered the welcome address, congratulating the graduates and encouraging them to embrace their future roles with a strong sense of belonging.
Engr Chohan provided an overview of Phase II of the scholarship programme, approved in 2018 with a capital cost of Rs7.3 billion, which is set to continue through 2027. He emphasised its socio-economic impact on 3,000 Afghan students, their families and communities. He also highlighted the importance of inclusive participation, particularly the empowerment of Afghan women in promoting literacy, human development and economic progress.
Chohan noted that the initiative includes short-term training for Afghan faculty and officials, aligning the project with Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 4 (Quality Education) and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).
Ambassador Sadiq expressed pride in the students’ achievements and described their graduation as a new chapter in their lives. He praised Pakistan’s continued generosity in providing scholarships despite economic challenges, which he said strengthens goodwill and people-to-people ties. He stressed that peace in Afghanistan is essential for peace in Pakistan and applauded the project’