In a dramatic and abrupt step, the American government has cut a flagship educational program that for more than a decade provided opportunities for Pakistani undergraduates to pursue studies in the United States. The sudden cancellation of the Undergraduate Exchange Programme for Pakistan (Global UGRAD) has dismayed students, who now are fighting desperately to save their academic prospects.
The news, announced through a curt statement from the U.S. Educational Foundation in Pakistan (USEFP), was not very informative about the reasoning behind the termination. “The program has ended,” the notification stated, striking a sad chord for thousands of former participants who had once cherished the life-altering experience.
The move is the latest shocking news on top of yet another stunning breakthrough: the sudden withdrawal of visas from more than 400 foreign students, including Pakistanis, enrolled at high-flying U.S. institutions like Harvard, Stanford, and UCLA. No notification, no explanation.
For would-be scholars, the double whammy has left them outraged and despondent. “This was my only chance to study abroad,” wept one candidate who had worked for months crafting their application. Now, their dreams—and those of thousands of others—are laid waste.
USEFP’s announcement came with a nostalgic tone, reflecting on the program’s 15-year history of building cross-cultural connections and academic achievement. However, such reminiscence is cold comfort for students in the crosshairs of geopolitical change.
The dust settles, and questions remain: Why now? What then? With no answers in sight, impacted students are left with a bitter education in the fleeting nature of global education—and a hard lesson that opportunities can be taken away in an instant.
Also, see:
Umar Gul emerges as leading contender for Bangladesh’s pace bowling coach
Topics #featured #Pakistan #trending pakistan
