As part of the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP), Pakistan’s federal government has proposed to allocate 1,600 scholarships for students from Indian-Occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
The initiative represents a revised plan originally launched in May 2019 by the Central Development Working Party (CDWP).
According to the 2025-26 budget document, Rs 164 million has been allocated for the upcoming fiscal year.
A sum of approximately Rs 2.05 billion was earmarked for the scholarship programme in the 2018-19 budget.
The awards are designed to support students seeking higher education within Pakistan at federal institutions, such as those under the Federal Directorate of Education (FDE).
First introduced in May 2019 under the CDWP’s fourth revised scheme, the scholarship programme aims to provide educational access to deserving youth from the disputed territory.
Over the years, the initiative has been consistently renewed in national development plans, reaffirming Islamabad’s policy of using education as a form of support and soft diplomacy.
The initiative will be formally included in the federal budget that is expected to be announced on June 10, 2025.
Officials emphasize that the scholarships are aimed at bridging educational gaps and supporting socio-economic development in the region.
