Press Releases 2008
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The U.S. Ambassador to Pakistan, Anne W. Patterson, delivers her remarks at the 5th annual Fulbright Alumni Conference at the National University of Modern Languages.
Fulbright Program is Significant Investment by Both Countries: Ambassador Patterson
04/26/2008
Islamabad – The U.S. Ambassador to Pakistan, Anne W. Patterson, declared the Fulbright Program in Pakistan “a significant investment by both countries” while speaking at the 5th annual Fulbright Alumni Conference at the National University of Modern Languages here today.
“The Fulbright program in Pakistan is the largest in the world with the U.S. Government contribution of $19.5 million per year,” Ambassador Patterson said “The other major funding source is Pakistan's Higher Education Commission, which contributes $10.5 million per year.”
The American Ambassador, who is also the honorary co-chair of the United States Educational Foundation in Pakistan (USEFP), said that some 175 outstanding Pakistani students travel to the United States each year with full scholarships to begin work on a master's degree or a doctorate. Dozens more receive scholarships to take part in Fulbright affiliated programs that range from community college training to teaching Urdu or Pashto at U.S universities, she added.
“Among the highest priorities for the United States in our partnership with Pakistan are these: to encourage this country's continued economic growth, and to support programs that will distribute the benefits of that growth as widely as possible,” Ambassador Patterson remarked.
She said that the challenge will be to move forward with development and democratization in tandem so that people not only have economic opportunity, but also have the ability to participate politically. “Sharing the benefits of Pakistan's growth among all its citizens” will be strong defenses against the dangerous forces of disillusionment and alienation.”
Ambassador Patterson lauded the USEFP for “reaching out to young people from all over Pakistan” to offer student advising. “Pakistan now ranks 23rd among countries sending their students to U.S. colleges and universities,” she added.
“More Pakistani students on U.S. campuses means more people from this country come to know and understand the United States; and it means more opportunities for people in American communities to learn about Pakistan and its people,” the American Ambassador said.
