Lucrative US scholarships losing charm for Pakistani students

Pakistani students are looking reluctant to avail an opportunity of the US -funded Fulbright scholarships for 2011 to study in America.

A few years back, students used to have a dream to study in the United States but now they have many reservations especially after the implementation of body scanning system at U.S. airports.

The U.S. Educational Foundation in Pakistan (USEFP) announced to accept applications for Fulbright advanced degree grants for 2011. But students in Pakistan, who are busy in getting admissions to study abroad, prefer European universities over American ones.

After the announcement of the scholarships by the Information Office of the Public Affairs Section of the US Embassy in Islamabad, Umer Farooq, a student from the International Islamic University told Xinhua that he would never even think about such scholarships for a country where one is humiliated by different means.

“When one reaches their (America) airport, one’s ego and respect is snatched through naked body checking,” he said.

“This world is very big, America is not the last one, and we have opportunities in Europe then why do we go to the place where our life and respect both are not safe?” asked Farooq.

Waseem Yusuf, a law student in Punjab University Lahore, also refused to avail such opportunity. “I shall think about it if America stops naked body scanning and discriminatory behaviour with Pakistanis in the U.S.,” he said.

But Muhammad Akif, a post-graduate student from Forman Christian College Lahore, didn’t feel the same.

“It’s a nice chance every one should go for it. If Americans are favouring us then why should we kick ourselves,” he said.

The USEFP is a bi-national commission dedicated to improving mutual understanding between the people of Pakistan and the people of the United States of America through educational exchange opportunities.

Since 1951, the USEFP has sent more than 2,200 Pakistanis to the U.S. and brought 800 Americans to Pakistan on educational exchange programs. The USEFP is one of 51 Fulbright Commissions worldwide and is considered the largest Fulbright program in the world.

The Fulbright program is sponsored by the US Government and provides participants, chosen for their academic merit and leadership potential, with the opportunity to study, teach and conduct research at universities or academic institutions in the United States.

For Pakistan, the Fulbright program funds tuition at an accredited university in America. Women, minorities, people with disabilities, and students from Taliban affected areas are being welcomed for the scheme for Master’s or Ph.D. programs.

ISLAMABAD, Xinhua