United States President Donald Trump‘s administration stopped the funding of 530 Pakistani students putting their futures at risk. As per reports, the students of flood-affected areas, who were struggling to finance their education, used to get USAID scholarships.
These students are now enrolled in undergraduate programs at 30 universities and receiving financial support through USAID collaborated with the Higher Education Commission (HEC).
USAID-funded merit and needs-based scholarships provided scholarships to students since 2004.
However, Phase 2 of USAID Scholarships for Pakistan started in 2013 and was supposed to support students until 2026.
However, an executive order from US President Donald Trump put all USAID financial programs on hold for 90 days.
Therefore, the Executive order from the US President put a major blow to the developing countries.
Pakistani students are also highly affected by this executive order. More than four thousand Pakistani students graduated with these programs but 530 students are currently enrolled in 30 different universities whose future remains uncertain by this decision.
Therefore, it’s hard for students to continue their studies and compel them to reconsider their academic future.
Moreover, Applicants of UGRAD 2025 are also in a dilemma because interviews of applicants have been postponed.
Interviews were initially scheduled for the second week of February.
The decision to stop USAID funding falls under Trump’s ‘American First Policy.’
Currently, 30.7 million dollars of scholarships to the undergraduate students of Pakistan have been paused which puts their future at risk.
