Improved US-Pakistan Ties: F-1 Visas For Pakistani Students Soaring

by Riaz Haq

Oct 19, 2025

The F-1 visas for Pakistani students are soaring amid a global decline, according to the US government data. The US visas granted to Pakistani students climbed 44.3% in the first half of Fiscal Year 2025 (October 2024 to March 2025) with warming relations between the governments of the two countries. The number of visas granted to Indian students declined 44.5%, compared to  20% fewer US visas given to students globally in this period.  The number of US visas granted to Pakistani students in the current year is on track to reach 5,800 which will be an all-time high.  

F-1 Student Visa Trend For Pakistan 2018-2025. Source: ApplyBoard

In Pakistan, 3,322 F-1 student visas were granted in fiscal year 2023. The number of F-1 visas issued in the first half of fiscal year 2025 was 1,928, an increase of 44.3% compared to the same period in the previous year. While the final numbers for fiscal year 2025 are not yet complete, Pakistan is on track to issue a high number of F-1 visas, possibly reaching an all-time high. From October 2024 to May 2025, nearly 3,000 Pakistani students received F-1 visas, a figure that was expected to significantly increase during the peak summer months, according to ApplyBoard. 

Beyond the ‘Big Four’(Australia, Canada, UK and US), other destinations have seen increased interest from Pakistani students since the pandemic. In Europe, Germany has emerged as a major destination for Pakistani students seeking education abroad. 

Pakistani Studying in Germany. Source: ApplyBoard

Pakistan is third, after only China and India, in terms of the size of its college-aged population, according to the United Nations. The British Council expects growth in Pakistani outbound mobility to be among highest in the world over the next decade, along with China, India, Nigeria, and Bangladesh.Pakistanis pursuit of international education is largely focused on pursuing studies in high-demand fields like science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). 

Acceptance rate in Pakistani universities and degree colleges was just 13.5% in 2022. Only 541,043 students were accepted from 4,085,185 students who applied. The country produced 471,306 university graduates in 2020-21. Of these, 157,102 were in STEM fields, including 43,000 graduates in information technology (IT).  

Pakistan’s gross tertiary enrollment (GER) ratio was only 13% in 2023, according to UNESCO. This is much lower than in India, and lower than in Bangladesh and Sri Lanka as well. Of 109 countries UNESCO profiled in 2021, Pakistan’s tertiary GER was 100th. Given Pakistan’s huge college-aged population, there is serious unmet demand for higher education, according to the ICEF Monitor. 

Recent data on which destinations are hosting the most Pakistani students include:

UK: 34,690 in 2022/23 (+50% y-o-y)

China: 28,000 before the pandemic

UAE: 24,865 in 2020 according to UNESCO

Australia: 23,380 in 2023 (+49%)

US: 10,165 in 2022/23 (+16%)

Germany: 8,210 in 2022/23 (+22%)

Kyrgyzstan: 6,000 in 2020 according to UNESCO

Malaysia: 5,000 in 2023

Canada: 4,750 in 2023 (+101%)

Turkey: 2,385 in 2020 according to UNESCO

Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Sweden, Qatar: At least 4,000 in 2020 according to UNESCO

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  • Riaz Haq

    US, PAKISTAN OPEN NEW HUB FOR EDUCATIONAL EXCHANGE IN ISLAMABAD


    https://dnanews.com.pk/us-pakistan-open-new-hub-for-educational-exc...

    ISLAMABAD, DEC 8 /DNA/ – U.S. Embassy Islamabad’s Chargé d’Affaires (CDA) Natalie A. Baker joined Minister of State for Education Wajiha Qamar as they inaugurated a new purpose-built building of the United States Educational Foundation in Pakistan (USEFP) in Islamabad, marking a major milestone in the longstanding U.S.-Pakistan educational partnership. This year also marks the 75th anniversary of the Fulbright program in Pakistan.

    CDA Baker noted that as the United States approaches its 250th anniversary in 2026, the new USEFP building will highlight America’s founding ideals and global impact, using this milestone to further strengthen U.S.-Pakistan relations.

    Designed to serve as a central U.S.-supported resource for learning and exchange, the new USEFP building is a five-story, 9,755-square-meter complex which will expand access to educational resources, empower Pakistani students and educators, and foster innovation. By bringing together EducationUSA advising services, a Lincoln Corner, training spaces, and public programs under one roof, the building will equip Pakistan’s next generation with the skills and knowledge needed to thrive in a global economy.

    CDA Baker and Minister of State Qamar officially opened the building during a ribbon-cutting ceremony. U.S. Department of State’s Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Educational and Cultural Affairs Sherry Keneson-Hall, Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asian Affairs Shelly Seaver, USEFP Executive Director Peter Moran, USEFP Chair Kamal Uddin Tipu, artist and poet Dr. Raja Changez Sultan, and many distinguished guests from Pakistan’s academic and government sectors also attended the event.

    Speaking on the occasion, CDA Baker emphasized the long-term impact the new public building will have on advancing education in Pakistan and strengthening the U.S.-Pakistan bilateral relationship. “This is more than a building. It is a symbol of the deep commitment both the United States and Pakistan have to education, innovation, and building a safe, stronger, more prosperous future together. It will also be used as a public space for Pakistanis to learn more about the United States and a place where people can come to exchange ideas on issues that affect us all,” she remarked.

    Established in 1950 as a binational commission, USEFP promotes mutual understanding through educational and cultural exchanges and is one of 49 Fulbright Commissions worldwide. More than 9,000 Pakistanis and nearly 1,000 Americans have participated in USEFP-administered exchanges, enriching academic and cultural ties between the two countries.

    Dec 9, 2025

  • Riaz Haq

    Reko Diq Mining, F-16 Upgrade Sales, IMF Tranche: Pakistan Secures Major Deals from Trump Admin

    https://thewire.in/south-asia/riko-diq-mining-f-16-upgrade-imf-tran...


    In a significant shift in bilateral relations, Pakistan has secured nearly $2-billion worth of commitments from the United States within a span of days, signalling a potential thaw in ties under the Trump administration that could reshape regional dynamics.

    The Export-Import Bank of the United States approved $1.25 billion in financing for Pakistan’s Reko Diq copper-gold mining project in Balochistan on December 10, marking one of the largest American economic engagements in Pakistan’s mineral sector. The US Chargé d’Affaires to Pakistan Natalie Baker explicitly stated that forging such deals has become “central to American diplomacy” under the Trump administration, emphasising the strategic importance of critical minerals for American security and prosperity.

    The Reko Diq financing will enable up to $2 billion in American mining equipment and services for the project, expected to create 6,000 jobs in the US and 7,500 in Pakistan’s restive Balochistan province, Dawn reported. The $7 billion project, being developed by Canadian mining giant Barrick Gold in partnership with Pakistan’s government, is projected to produce 200,000 metric tons of copper annually and generate $2.8 billion in export revenue in its first year of shipment.

    Just two days earlier, on December 8, the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress of a $686 million sale of advanced technology for Pakistan’s F-16 fighter jets. The package includes 92 Link-16 tactical data link systems and comprehensive upgrades aimed at modernising Pakistan’s F-16 fleet and extending aircraft life through 2040, as per a Dawn report. Notably, Pakistan had requested these upgrades in 2021 during a period of strained relations, but Washington delayed its response until now.

    Dec 11, 2025

  • Riaz Haq

    US, Pakistan deepen military ties with ‘Inspired Gambit 2026’ exercise
    Senior military officials from both sides attended the opening ceremony, according to Pakistan’s military media wing.

    https://www.jpost.com/international/article-883088


    The United States and Pakistan have launched the 13th round of their joint counterterrorism exercise, Inspired Gambit 2026, highlighting continued military engagement between the two countries amid shifting regional security dynamics.

    The Armed Forces’ media wing, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), stated on Saturday that “the two-week exercise, which began on Jan. 9, is being held at Pakistan’s National Counter Terrorism Center in Pabbi, northwest Pakistan, and brings together professional contingents from the US Army and the Pakistan Army.”


    Senior military officials from both sides attended the opening ceremony, according to Pakistan’s military media wing.

    Drills focus on improving interoperability and operational coordination by exchanging counterterrorism experience while refining the tactics, techniques, and procedures needed for complex security operations. Training includes urban warfare scenarios, with an emphasis on marksmanship, as well as familiarization with each other’s operational doctrines and best practices, the statement continued.

    Pakistan’s military said the latest iteration of “Inspired Gambit” reflects a shared commitment by Washington and Islamabad to collaborate on strengthening counterterrorism capabilities and promoting regional security.

    Jan 12