ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has extended the application deadline for Afghan students under the Allama Muhammad Iqbal Scholarship Program (Phase-III) due to recent internet outages in Afghanistan, announced Pakistan’s Special Envoy for Afghanistan, Mohammad Sadiq, on Thursday.
The Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan is offering 4,500 scholarships to Afghan students to support capacity building and provide access to quality higher education. The scholarships cover tuition fees, hostel expenses, book allowance, and a living stipend, according to HEC’s official website.
“The government of Pakistan has extended the deadline for Afghan students to apply… due to internet outages in Afghanistan,” Sadiq posted on social media platform X.
Scholarships are available across multiple fields including Medicine, Engineering, Agriculture, Management, and Computer Science.
The original deadline for applications was September 30, but due to the widespread internet blackout in Afghanistan, it has now been extended to October 10, 2025.
A recent 48-hour internet shutdown had left many in Afghanistan without access to digital services, hampering application submissions.
The scholarship program is part of Pakistan’s broader effort to strengthen bilateral ties, foster people-to-people contacts, and support human resource development in Afghanistan. It also aims to position Pakistani universities as regional education hubs, attracting students from neighboring countries.
