As per the officials, 2 programs have launched to enable Pakistani students and professionals to access quality education and training in the US. The programs are part of the US SHAPE initiative, which aims to promote social justice, healthcare access, advocacy, poverty alleviation, and education.
The programs are the Tahira Khatoon Educational Program and the Nagy Loan Program for Physicians. First one named after the late mother of Syed Javaid Anwar, a prominent Pakistani American businessman, and philanthropist who is the founder of US SHAPE. The latter named after Dr. Nafees Nagy, a Pakistani American physician who donated $100,000 to the program.
The Tahira Khatoon Educational Program will provide scholarships and mentorship to Pakistani students who want to pursue higher education in the US. This program will also facilitate their admission and visa process. The program will cover various fields, including engineering, IT, management, and entrepreneurship.
Furthermore, the Nagy Loan Program for Physicians will provide interest-free loans to underprivileged Pakistani physicians who want to take the USMLE exams and pursue residency and fellowship training in the US. The program initiated in 2015 under APPNA, the Association of Physicians of Pakistani Descent of North America. This program has helped over 30 physicians achieve their USMLE dreams and repay their loans.
The launch of the programs was lauded by Pakistan’s Ambassador to the US Masood Khan, who called them instrumental in providing better educational opportunities for Pakistanis and strengthening educational linkages between Pakistan and the US. He also praised Pakistani American physicians as “bridge builders” between the two countries.
Khan also called for expanding the number of Pakistani students in the US and setting a short-term goal of doubling it to 16,000. He said that the US State Department has been a steadfast partner in supporting Pak-US educational exchanges. He also appreciated the comprehensive vision of US SHAPE and paid tribute to Syed Javaid Anwar for his business acumen and philanthropic activities.
Nate Lynn, representing the State Department, welcomed the US SHAPE initiative and pledged to facilitate the student visa process. He also highlighted a 17% rise in Pakistani students studying in the US from the previous year, moving Pakistan to the 18th spot on the global list.
Rao Kamran, Chairman of US SHAPE, elaborated on the history and success of the Nagy Loan Program. He also informed that US SHAPE has expanded its portfolio to include support for engineers and IT experts. The envoy congratulated the entire team of US SHAPE for their efforts to transform the vision into reality.