The United States has decided to suspend the global undergraduate exchange program (Global Ugragra) for Pakistan students. The program, which had been in force for 15 years, provided hundreds of Pakistani students the opportunity to study in the United States.
In an Instagram publication on Tuesday, the United States Educational Foundation (USEF) Pakistan announced the termination of the program, stating that the United States Department of State had instructed the end of the Pakistan initiative.
“We understand that this news can be disappointing, especially for those who requested this year and expected this opportunity. Over the years, the Global Ugra program has provided experiences that change the lives of thousands of students, promoting academic growth, cultural exchange and leadership development. We are immensely proud of the impact that this program has had in its participants and the communities that have touched,” said Usef Pakistan in a statement.
The decision has been a shock for many candidates for students in Pakistan who expected to obtain exhibition and improve their learning through this exchange program.
The measure also reflects a broader trend of the United States revocative visas for foreigners as part of an extensive review of national security, a process that has generated concerns and uncertainty between students and green card holders equally.
The global Ugra Pakistan program, financed by the United States government, has come to an end after benefiting more than 2,500 Pakistani students since its launch in 2010. The program was designed to improve the participation of the students’ community, leadership skills and commitment to service.
The former students of the program have served in several fields, raising their communities and winning worldwide recognition for their contributions. This marks the lasting impact of the program on Pakistani students, who have gained valuable international exhibition and have developed key skills.
The United States Educational Foundation in Pakistan (USEFP), which has supervised the initiative, is a binational commission established in 1950 by the governments of the United States and Pakistan. Its mission is to promote mutual understanding among the peoples of both countries through educational and cultural exchange programs.
