The second phase of the Allama Iqbal Scholarships under the Pakistan-Bangladesh Knowledge Corridor was officially launched on Wednesday during the Pakistan Education Expo 2026 in Dhaka. The event, hosted at a local hotel, was organized by the Pakistan High Commission in Bangladesh in collaboration with the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan (HEC). Representatives from 20 Pakistani universities and higher education institutions attended the expo to present scholarship and study opportunities to Bangladeshi students.
The Pakistan-Bangladesh Knowledge Corridor was initiated following the visit of Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Muhammad Ishaq Dar to Bangladesh in August 2025, during which he announced 500 scholarships for Bangladeshi students. Officials from both countries emphasized that the initiative reflects a broader effort to strengthen bilateral ties through education, youth engagement, and academic exchange. The expo was inaugurated by Bangladesh’s Education Minister, Dr. A.N.M. Ehsanul Hoque Milon, who highlighted that the corridor would open new avenues for educational and research cooperation between the two nations.
Speaking at the event, Minister Milon praised Pakistan’s decision to offer fully funded scholarships, stating it would create new opportunities for young Bangladeshis seeking higher education abroad. Pakistan’s High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Imran Haider, called the program a landmark step in building long-term academic and institutional partnerships. He noted that Bangladeshi students had already begun studies at leading Pakistani universities under the first phase and expressed hope that increased exchanges would improve people-to-people ties. The initiative is expected to create avenues for academic mobility, joint research, and institutional partnerships.
Following the Dhaka launch, similar education expos will be organized in Barishal (May 12), Rajshahi (May 14), Sylhet (May 17), Chittagong (May 18), and Rangpur (May 20) to ensure broader outreach across Bangladesh. The event witnessed enthusiastic participation from students and academia, widely appreciated as a vital step in deepening educational cooperation between Pakistan and Bangladesh. For more context on bilateral relations, see Pakistan–Bangladesh relations and Reuters Asia-Pacific for regional developments.
Source: ARY News