As part of its 2025–26 Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP), Pakistan’s federal government has proposed 1,600 scholarships for students from Indian-Occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
The initiative is a continuation of a scholarship programme initially introduced in May 2019 under a revised scheme by the Central Development Working Party (CDWP). According to the new budget documents, Rs164 million has been allocated for the programme in the upcoming fiscal year.
The scheme was first funded in the 2018–19 budget with an allocation of approximately Rs2.05 billion. It is designed to provide higher education opportunities to students from the disputed region at federal institutions across Pakistan, including those managed by the Federal Directorate of Education (FDE).
Renewed over successive years, the scholarship programme reflects Pakistan’s ongoing commitment to educational support and soft diplomacy for Kashmiri youth. It is aimed at reducing educational disparities and promoting socio-economic development in the region.
The initiative is set to be formally included in the federal budget, scheduled to be announced on June 10, 2025. Officials highlight that the scholarships serve not only as academic support but also as a strategic tool to uplift students from Indian-held Kashmir.
