The Higher Education Commission (HEC) has successfully conducted the Scholarship Entry Test in Rajshahi and Chattogram, Bangladesh, for the second batch of candidates under the Pakistan Bangladesh Knowledge Corridor initiative.
Under this flagship programme, the Government of Pakistan is offering 500 fully funded Allama Muhammad Iqbal Scholarships to outstanding Bangladeshi students, reinforcing academic cooperation, educational exchange, and people to-people ties between Pakistan and Bangladesh.
The entry test was jointly organised by HEC Pakistan, its Education Testing Council (ETC), and the Pakistan High Commission in Dhaka. The initiative received an overwhelming response, with 3,858 applications submitted, a 130 percent increase compared to the previous batch.
Approximately 1,000 candidates appeared in the test on the first day across the two test centres in Rajshahi and Chattogram, reflecting growing interest among Bangladeshi students in higher education opportunities in Pakistan.
The Pakistan Bangladesh Knowledge Corridor is designed to promote academic mobility, foster research collaboration, and strengthen institutional linkages between higher education institutions of the two countries. Through the Allama Muhammad Iqbal Scholarships, talented students can access quality higher education in Pakistan across a range of academic disciplines while also promoting cultural understanding and regional cooperation.
HEC said it remains committed to expanding international academic partnerships and creating greater opportunities for students through merit based scholarship programmes. The successful conduct of the scholarship entry test marks another step in advancing educational diplomacy and enhancing bilateral relations between Pakistan and Bangladesh through higher education.
The scholarship programme reflects Pakistan’s continued commitment to investing in human capital, promoting academic excellence, and building enduring partnerships that contribute to shared progress and regional prosperity.
