WASHINGTON: On 8th April the United States Educational Foundation in Pakistan (USEFP) proclaimed that the State Dept has informed that the Global Undergraduate Exchange Programme for Pakistan (UGRAD) has come to an end.
“The US Department of State informed USEFP that the Global UGRAD-Pakistan Programme will no longer be offered…We understand that this news may be disappointing, especially for those who applied this year and were looking forward to this opportunity,” USEFP stated. But on Friday (11th April, 2025) USEFP took to the social media to clarify: “In response to Press reports and public concern expressed about the announcement of the termination of the Global Undergraduate Exchange (Global UGRAD) Program in Pakistan, USEFP would like to take the opportunity to offer a few points of clarification:
“The United States and USEFP remain committed to promoting the strong and enduring people-to-people ties between the United States and Pakistan. The United States proudly hosts 11,000 students at US universities, and we encourage Pakistanis to continue to choose the United States for higher education opportunities.The 54 Pakistani students currently in the United States on the Global UGRAD-Pakistan Program will complete their programs and return to Pakistan as planned. They have and will continue to receive their stipends and all benefits associated with the program.
“A number of US Government-funded exchange programs remain in place and are available to Pakistanis, including the Fulbright Program. Fulbright participants in the United States continue to receive their stipends. Assertions that the Fulbright program has been terminated or that students will be left stranded in the United States are false. At the same time, the US Department of State is conducting a strategic global review of US exchange programs to ensure close alignment to administration priorities. As we receive further information of the status of US Government funded exchange programs, we will keep you updated”.
For fifteen years, USEFP administered, semester exchange programme had provided an opportunity to Pakistani pupils spend a semester at a US university or college.
Newspakistan.tv
