Pakistan to have largest Fulbright degree program in the world

ISLAMABAD, Dec 17 (APP): Pakistan and United States Saturday signed an agreement for a new Fulbright 157.5 million scholarship program, for 750 students for the MS and Ph.D degrees, spread over five years in different disciplines.
The funding for the MS and the Ph.D programs, involving a US 105 million dollars commitment by the United States and US 52.5 million dollars by the HEC brings Pakistan at the top of list on Fulbright program.
The Memorandum of Understanding was signed by the Chairman Higher Education Commission of Pakistan (HEC) Dr Atta-ur-Rehman and the Executive Director of United States Educational Foundation in Pakistan (USEFP) Dr Grace Clark and was witnessed by the US ambassador to Pakistan Ryan C Crocker.
Dr Atta said Pakistan was working on a strategy to move forward from its agro base to a knowledge-based economy by unleashing the creativity of its younger generation.
He said the program would provide an opportunity to the young students to be a part of the socio- economic development of the country. He was appreciative of the United States for helping the country in "a really big way" and said students would get admissions to the top US universities in many disciplines; including basic and applied sciences, Information technology, bio- technology, management, economy etc.
The US ambassador termed the signing a "historic" moment that would expand cooperation and bring the two countries closer. He said Pakistan would top the list of 140 countries that compete for Fulbright scholarships. "It is a substantial investment by the two nationsl in Pakistan's future and the future of Pak-US relations."
Dr Grace Clark described the signing as a "momentus occassion". Under the program Pakistan would contribute US 10.5 million to the prorgam annually for five years, while the US Agency for International Development will provide US 4.5 million annually for the same period.
Around 50 students would be funded annually for the Ph.D program, while 100 for the MS program. Dr Atta said the agreement would provide an opportunity to the students to become leaders in cutting edge technologies and return to serve the nation.
USEFP is a bi-national commission established in 1950 and funded jointly by Pakistan and the United States. Its board comprises four people each from the two countries. Since its inception the Fulbright program has funded over 1700 Pakistani students in the United States and over 600 US citizens to study and conduct research in Pakistan. App
Full Deatails of Fullbright program can be seen at www.usefpakistan.org
By AB's pen