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The Global Undergraduate Exchange Program (Global UGRAD), which operated in Pakistan for 15 years, has been discontinued, the United States Educational Foundation in Pakistan (USEFP). Unlike previous reductions in educational and cultural ties between the U.S.
and Pakistan, this latest development does not stem from a cooling of bilateral relations but reflects a broader shift taking place within the United States itself. Historically, education has been a central tool of American diplomacy, used to foster goodwill, promote U.S.
values, and cultivate long-term influence in partner countries. Programs like Global UGRAD, Fulbright, and others have played a dual role—advancing soft power goals while also providing genuine opportunities for talented students from allied nations. This explains the ebb and flow of such initiatives in places like Pakistan, as seen in the declining Fulbright allocations and now, the abrupt end of Global UGRAD.
365 profiteers held in Lodhran What makes the current moment different, however, is that the cuts to educational outreach are part of a larger internal shift within the U.S. Increasingly, external education funding is being slashed across the board, and support for programs addressing diversity, inclusion, racism, and discrimination is being rolled back.
Simultaneously, elite universities once regarded as global leaders in higher education—such as Columbia, Yale, NYU, and Harvard—are embroiled in deep controversy. In the wake of protests and expressions of dissent, especially around the Israel-Palestine conflict, there has been a heavy-handed response from university administrations and government authorities. Reports of student detentions, threats of deportation, and the suppression of peaceful protest have cast a long shadow over these institutions, raising serious concerns about academic freedom and the political climate on American campuses.
For Pakistani students, it may be time to recalibrate their aspirations. While the United States has long been a top destination for higher education, the current environment—marked by both policy retrenchment and moral contradictions—calls for a broader view. Students may find better, safer, and more intellectually open opportunities in countries that are investing in international education without the political baggage that now clouds the American system.
Sindh’s Deadly Roads Tags: american education.
