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Education Minister Leads Pakistan’s Historic Outreach to Ivy League and Top US Universities

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has stepped up efforts to expand international higher education opportunities for its talented youth, with Federal Minister for Education and Professional Training Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui leading a high-level delegation to Georgetown University in Washington DC to seek a strategic partnership for the Pakistan Education Endowment Fund (PAK-EEF).

The delegation met Vice President for Global Engagement at Georgetown University Thomas Banchoff on August 25 as part of Pakistan’s ongoing US engagement mission aimed at securing partnerships with leading American universities for postgraduate and doctoral education.

The PAK-EEF is a government-backed initiative designed to enable academically meritorious Pakistani students to study at leading global universities irrespective of their financial circumstances. The government has secured PKR 1.5 billion for postgraduate education in strategic fields under the programme.

During the US mission, the delegation has held high-level meetings with officials at several prestigious institutions, including Columbia, Cornell, Princeton, Yale, Brown, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Harvard, Johns Hopkins and Georgetown universities.

Dr Siddiqui highlighted Pakistan’s young population, noting that around 65 per cent of the country’s population is below the age of 30. He said the government was committed to transforming this demographic potential into a source of skilled human capital by promoting education in STEM disciplines and other high-demand sectors of global importance.

The Pakistani delegation presented Georgetown University with a framework for bilateral cooperation based on shared investment in Pakistani talent.

Under the proposed co-investment model, PAK-EEF, which offers scholarships of up to $29,000 per student annually, would seek partial or full tuition fee waivers from QS-ranked universities for eligible PAK-EEF-sponsored students admitted to programmes aligned with Pakistan’s national priorities.

The proposal also envisages the establishment of a joint outreach platform to connect Pakistani students with world-class academic programmes and opportunities.

The government has identified seven priority areas for PAK-EEF scholarships: artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, data science, biotechnology, environment and climate change, agriculture, and public policy.

Ambassador of Pakistan to the United States Rizwan Saeed Sheikh reaffirmed the Embassy’s support for the initiative and its role in facilitating academic partnerships. He also expressed readiness to mobilise the Pakistani diaspora and community networks in the United States to develop a supplementary fund for PAK-EEF scholars studying at leading US universities.

Mr Banchoff warmly received the Pakistani delegation and acknowledged the importance of the initiative, according to an official press release.

The Georgetown engagement forms part of Pakistan’s broader effort to build institutional partnerships with leading US universities and create sustainable pathways for its brightest students to access advanced education in fields considered critical to the country’s future development.

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Health minister orders probe into Sindh MDCAT complaints

ISLAMABAD:Federal Minister for Health Syed Mustafa Kamal has taken notice of alleged irregularities in the Medical and Dental College Admission Test (MDCAT) held in Sindh and ordered a comprehensive inquiry into the complaints.

According to official sources, the minister directed a five-member committee, including the President of the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC), to conduct a transparent investigation and submit its report within 15 days.

The committee has been tasked with examining the complaints and reviewing the circumstances surrounding the alleged irregularities during the examination, sources said.

The minister directed the committee to complete the inquiry within the stipulated timeframe and present its findings for further action in accordance with the applicable rules.

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CDA chairman directs faster work on Expressway East project

ISLAMABAD: Capital Development Authority (CDA) Chairman Sohail Ashraf has directed officials to accelerate work on the Islamabad Expressway Service Road East project while ensuring strict compliance with approved designs and construction standards.

During an inspection of the project on Saturday, the chairman reviewed progress and was briefed on ongoing works and the next phase of development.

He directed the project director and relevant departments to maintain continuous field monitoring and quality control and ensure effective traffic management to minimise inconvenience to commuters.

The chairman described the Expressway East project as an important infrastructure scheme for improving connectivity, traffic flow and road capacity in the capital. He also stressed that construction quality should not be compromised in efforts to meet the project timeline.

During the visit, he was also briefed on an ongoing enforcement operation against unauthorised and illegal construction along the Islamabad Expressway.

According to the CDA, 377 buildings have been identified for action, including 281 commercial structures. So far, 58 buildings have been sealed, while 124 buildings between Sohan and Khanna bridges have been marked for demolition.

The authority said Rs234.685 million had been recovered through land-use conversion, unauthorised construction and de-sealing charges. Around Rs3 billion remained recoverable under applicable regulations in connection with land-use conversion and violations relating to unauthorised construction, setbacks, floor area ratio and covered area.

The chairman directed the relevant departments to ensure strict enforcement of building-control and land-use regulations, particularly mandatory fire-safety requirements.

The enforcement operation is being conducted by the CDA’s Building Control Section and Enforcement Directorate in coordination with the district administration and Islamabad police.

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GB ministers call on Governor Kundi

PESHAWAR: Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Faisal Karim Kundi on Saturday held a meeting with a delegation of Gilgit-Baltistan ministers at the Governor’s House here and discussed the country’s political situation and other matters of mutual interest.

The delegation comprised Gilgit-Baltistan Minister for Local Government and Rural Development Zulfiqar Ali Murad, Minister for Health Iqbal Hassan and Minister for Education Aman Ali Ameer.

During the meeting, the two sides exchanged views on the prevailing political situation in the country and various issues of mutual interest. They also discussed the recent elections in Gilgit-Baltistan and the Pakistan Peoples Party’s success in the polls.

The visiting ministers were taken on a tour of the Governor’s House. Governor Kundi presented them with traditional shawls and caps.