189 PAKISTANIS RECEIVE FULBRIGHT SCHOLARSHIPS FOR MASTER’S AND PHD DEGREES IN THE UNITED STATES

Dr. Jassim Taqui

DG Al-Bab Institute for Strategic Studies

Islamabad, July 30, 2022: To promote educational and cultural exchange between the United States and Pakistan, 189 students have been awarded the prestigious Fulbright Scholarship to pursue advanced studies and research at leading U.S. universities.  The awardees will start their higher education journey at 82 universities this fall in various disciplines, including environmental studies, energy management, and social sciences.

Fulbright is the flagship scholarship program of the United States Government, operating in 160 countries.  Pakistan has the largest Fulbright program in the world in terms of U.S. government contribution, with $18.44 million dollars this year to support 189 students.  This is a testament to the U.S commitment to our cooperation in Pakistan, now celebrating our 75th anniversary.  The Government of Pakistan, through the Higher Education Commission, also supports a significant number of PhD scholarships.

This year’s 189 students attended a two-day pre-departure orientation organized by the United States Educational Foundation in Pakistan (USEFP) in Islamabad to prepare for the journey, their exchange programs, life on university campuses, and American culture.  U.S. Ambassador Donald Blome congratulated the grantees on their achievement. “Pakistani Fulbrighters have solved social problems, written new laws, advanced policies to ensure equal access and voices to all, and so much more.  They do this all for one purpose: to create a better, safer, and more prosperous Pakistan.  In this goal, the United States and Pakistan are united,” Ambassador Blome said.  He further stressed that the United States invests in education because it strengthens the American relationship with Pakistan, builds stability in the region, and leads to shared economic prosperity. 

The 2022 Fulbright cohort is one of the largest ever for Pakistan, with students from 47 public and private universities representing all regions of Pakistan. This year, 125 Master's and 64 PhD (31 Fulbright PhD and 33 Fulbright-HEC PhD) students and 7 Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistant (FLTA) fellows were selected for these awards. Half of the grantees are women.

The scholarship covers travel, living stipends, health insurance, and tuition for the entire study period.  Since the program began in Pakistan in 1951, 4,100 Pakistanis have received the Fulbright award to study, conduct research, exchange ideas, and contribute to finding solutions to shared international concerns.  In just the past two decades, 2,568 Pakistani’s have been awarded these scholarships.  When they return, Fulbright students join a community of over 32,000 Pakistanis who have participated in a U.S. Government-sponsored exchange or English language program over the years.

The United States Government also supports Pakistani higher education in other ways because investing in education strengthens our bilateral relationship.  This includes thousands of merit and needs based scholarships for students to attend Pakistani universities; a variety of partnerships with 99 Pakistani universities to develop faculty and collaborate on research, such as in green energy and climate resiliency; and efforts to develop a new set of university English language courses with the Higher Education Commission. 

“The Fulbright Exchange Program represents a life-changing opportunity for its recipients, providing a top-tier academic experience and exceptional cultural and social enrichment,” noted USEFP Executive Director Rita Akhtar. “It is also a great contribution to both countries more broadly.  Americans benefit from the experience and insight of Pakistan's brightest young scholars, and Pakistanis benefit from the contribution these Fulbrighters make when they return with all their new knowledge and experience.  More than 2,000 Fulbright alumni already returned and currently working in Pakistan are proof that Fulbright is a great investment in the future and a key component in building mutual understanding between the people of Pakistan and the people of the United States.”

USEFP is a bi-national commission established in 1950 by the governments of the United States and Pakistan.  Since its inception, more than 9,300 Pakistanis and over 935 Americans have participated in USEFP-managed exchange programs.  For more information, visit w

ww.usefp.org.

 

 

 The United States to Donate 16 Million Pediatric COVID-19 Vaccines to Pakistan

Dr. Jassim Taqui

DG Al-Bab Institute for Strategic Studies

Islamabad, July 29, 2022: U.S. COVID-19 vaccine donations to Pakistan will surpass 77 million doses following an agreement to ship 16 million pediatric doses from the United States to Pakistan in partnership with COVAX.  The new donation was announced at the conclusion of the first U.S.-Pakistan Health Dialogue in Washington, D.C.  An additional $20 million in USAID funding is also planned to support vaccination efforts in Pakistan.  Since the start of the pandemic, the U.S. government has provided nearly $70.4 million in direct support and $13.8 million in in-kind support to assist the Pakistani people in the fight against COVID-19.

The United States is the single largest donor of COVID-19 vaccines to Pakistan.  In addition to Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, the United States recently donated four mobile testing laboratories through USAID to Pakistan’s National Institute of Health worth a total of $4.6 million.  These labs will strengthen Pakistan’s ability to diagnose COVID-19 and other communicable diseases, especially in remote and underserved areas. 

Previously, the United States provided Pakistan with more than 1.2 million N95 masks, 96,000 surgical masks, 52,000 protective goggles, one million COVID-19 rapid diagnostic tests, 1,200 pulse oximeters, and 200 ventilators for 64 Pakistani hospitals – all of which has helped save lives and protect people across Pakistan.  The U.S. government also trained over 30,000 women health workers across Pakistan on home-based care for COVID-19 patients and established a national network of disease surveillance and response units and teams – providing an infrastructure to combat the current pandemic and building resiliency for the future. 

Emphasizing the strong bilateral health cooperation and thanking Pakistan for their continued partnership in the fight against COVID-19, Ambassador Donald Blome said, “Throughout our 75-year relationship we have strengthened our cooperation and partnership, and that is most evident in our joint efforts to combat and end the transmission of COVID-19 in Pakistan. We will continue to work side-by-side to tackle this once in a lifetime public health challenge.”

The close coordination between the United States and Pakistani authorities, doctors, nurses, and logistics professionals continues to produce tangible, life-saving results.  Every additional vaccine administered boosts our ability to defeat future COVID-19 waves.  The United States will continue to engage in Pakistan with a whole-of-government-approach to help strengthen Pakistan’s capacity and infrastructure to combat COVID-19 and other communicable diseases.

Find out more information on COVID-19 vaccine donations at:

https://www.state.gov/covid-19-recovery/vaccine-deliveries/

 

 

 Undergraduate Students Prepare for Semester Exchange Journey in the USA

Dr. Jassim Taqui

DG Al-Bab Institute for Strategic Studies

Islamabad, July 28, 2022: Approximately 50 Pakistani undergraduate students received scholarships from the American Government to study in the United States for one semester under the Undergraduate Semester Exchange (UGRAD) Program for Pakistan.  During their stay in the USA, the students will attend undergraduate classes at 42 colleges and universities, participate in workshops to develop leadership skills, and engage in community service projects.

Before leaving Pakistan, the United States Educational Foundation in Pakistan (USEFP) welcomed the students to a two-day pre-departure orientation in Islamabad to learn about campus life, American culture, and visa and travel requirements.  The Acting Deputy Chief of Mission from the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad personally greeted the students in the orientation.  “The United States has a long tradition of embracing international students,” he noted, and “while it seems obvious that you are gaining a life-changing experience, it is actually a two-way street.  We in the United States also gain so much from your examples of hard work and dedication to your studies, as well as your willingness to share Pakistani culture with us.”

The students come from all regions of Pakistan and represent 27 public and private universities. Since the UGRAD Program launched in 2010, approximately 2,391 Pakistani students have previously received this prestigious one-semester scholarships to study in the United States.

USEFP Executive Director Rita Akhtar encouraged the students to take full advantage of the academic, extracurricular, and community service activities available in the United States. “Global UGRADs are selected on merit from thousands of applicants from every part of Pakistan. In many cases, they are the first person from their locality ever to travel to the United States.  They spend a semester studying in colleges and universities in parts of the United States where there are very few other Pakistanis, so American students also learn a lot about Pakistan through this exchange.  We hope you meet a lot of interesting people on your adventure and that you share your U.S. experiences widely when you come home to Pakistan.”

USEFP is the official U.S. – Pakistan binational Fulbright commission.  It was established in 1950 by the governments of Pakistan and the United States, and is one of 49 such commissions throughout the world.  Since its inception, more than 9,300 Pakistanis and over 935 Americans have participated in USEFP-managed exchange programs.  Its mission is to promote mutual understanding between the people of Pakistan and the people of the United States through educational and cultural exchange programs.  For more information, visit www.usefp.org.

 

 

 

Two Hundred Women Students from Newly Merged Districts Graduate from U.S. Embassy-funded English Works! Program

Dr. Jassim Taqui

DG Al-Bab Institute for Strategic Studies

Islamabad, July 23, 2022: At a graduation ceremony today, Ambassador Donald Blome congratulated 200 women students from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa who successfully completed the U.S. Embassy-sponsored English Works! Program.

Two hundred women students of the English Works! Program hosted by Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Women University (SBBWU) Peshawar successfully completed this six-month program that improves English proficiency, develops computer literacy skills, and builds job market knowledge for motivated students with limited financial resources.  During the graduation ceremony, Ambassador Blome also launched a new English Access Microscholarship Program that will provide two years of after-school English language training for 565 students from economically disadvantaged communities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

“Today we celebrate a remarkable achievement,” Ambassador Blome told the graduating students. “I know how difficult it can be to learn a foreign language. You and your families should be very proud of your accomplishment. I hope the knowledge and skills you gained from this program will carry you forward to do great things.”

Vice Chancellor of FATA University Prof. Dr. Muhammad Jehanzeb Khan and Vice Chancellor of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Women University Prof. Dr. Safia Ahmad also attended the ceremony along with the graduating and newly enrolled students from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The two programs are sponsored by the U.S. Embassy in Pakistan through grants totaling $16.9 million.  The Access Program includes a minimum of 360 hours of virtual and in-person instruction over two years, and the English Works! Program includes 240 hours of instruction over six-months.  More than 24,000 Pakistani students have participated in these programs in Pakistan since 2005, an example of the broad cooperation between our two countries in this, the 75th anniversary of U.S.-Pakistan relations.

 

 

 PAKISTAN STARTUP CUP’S GRAND FINALE HOSTED BY TiE ISLAMABAD AND THE U.S. EMBASSY

Dr. Jassim Taqui

DG Al-Bab Institute for Strategic Studies

Islamabad, July 22, 2022: The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE) Islamabad joined forces with the United States Embassy in Islamabad to host the Grand Finale of the 2022 Pakistan Startup Cup at the Islamabad Marriott Hotel.  The Pakistan Startup Cup is a local business model competition designed to increase the quality and quantity of entrepreneurs throughout the community.

The event was attended by the Ministry of Information Technology, Ministry of Finance, and U.S. Embassy Islamabad.  The chief guests distributed cheques and prize money to the winning teams from across Pakistan. Speaking on the occasion, the President of TiE Islamabad, Murtaza Zaidi, said “Over the last decade, the Pakistan Startup Cup has mentored more than 2,000 startups.  The competition engages leading industry experts to mentor startups and help them refine their business models. We have proudly partnered with the U.S. Embassy to provide our entrepreneurs with an enabling environment.”

The U.S. Embassy’s Acting Public Affairs Officer, Aaron Tarver, added that “The U.S. Embassy sponsorship of the Pakistan Startup Cup has and will continue to increase entrepreneurial and startup activity across the country through sustained coaching and mentorship.  This can only help generate a robust entrepreneurship culture in local communities in every region.”

More than 900 startups benefited from coaching and business preparation activities and mentoring through the competition this year.  They were narrowed down to the top 21 business ideas, with teams presenting the ideas at the finale with an eye towards the first-place cash prize of one million rupees to invest in their business.  The second and third place winners also received cash to develop their startup ideas.

The Pakistan Startup Cup aims to connect, scale, and inspire entrepreneurs and innovators from across the country.  This year, the eighth cycle of Pakistan Startup Cup was launched in Quetta, Gilgit, Mirpur, Lahore, Islamabad, Peshawar, and Karachi.  The top 21 startups from across Pakistan participated in over 170 hours of workshops and over 50 hours of mentoring from industry experts.

The business applications received in the competition included new ideas in ed-tech, health-tech, fin-tech, agri-tech, e-commerce and food businesses, among others.

About TiE

TiE Islamabad is part of The Indus Entrepreneurs, an association of successful businesspersons, corporate executives, and senior professionals with roots in the Indus region based in the Silicon Valley. Their mission is to foster entrepreneurship globally through mentoring, networking, and education and generate and nurture our next generation of entrepreneurs. It has over 13,000 members and 2,500 charter members in 61 chapters across 17 countries.

 

 

 

U.S. EMBASSY AND NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCES AND TECHNOLOGY OPEN NEW LINCOLN CORNER

Dr. Jassim Taqui

DG Al-Bab Institute for Strategic Studies

Islamabad, July 15, 2022: In his first visit to a university in Pakistan, U.S. Ambassador Donald Blome joined the Rector of the National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST) Javed Mahmood Bukhari to inaugurate Pakistan’s newest Lincoln Corner.  During the event, the U.S. Embassy Islamabad and NUST representatives signed a Memorandum of Understanding to operate the Lincoln Corner for the next two years.  Ambassador Blome also visited the U.S.-Pakistan Center for Advanced Studies in Energy, originally established with $30 million of U.S. government support, to highlight the depth and breadth of U.S. cooperation with NUST and all of Pakistan.

This partnership signals the U.S. Mission to Pakistan’s commitment to continue advancing education in Pakistan by providing American resources, expertise, and collaboration for students and faculty.  Over the past three decades, the United States has collaborated with NUST to invest in a Technology Incubation Center, host speaker series and conferences, and provide almost 200 scholarships.  There are also over 360 U.S. exchange program alumni affiliated with NUST.  In his remarks, Ambassador Blome said, “This year marks the 75th anniversary of U.S.-Pakistan bilateral relations.  The people-to-people ties between our two countries are our greatest strength.  The inauguration of this new Lincoln Corner will continue to strengthen those ties.  The U.S. Embassy is proud to partner with educational institutions and the government of Pakistan to ensure young Pakistanis are prepared to face 21st century challenges.”

Representatives from the U.S. Embassy joined NUST leadership, faculty, and students in the inauguration event of the latest Lincoln Corner, one of 18 across Pakistan.  By hosting a Lincoln Corner, NUST joins a strong network of partnerships between the U.S. Mission to Pakistan and Pakistani institutions of education and culture. 

 Lincoln Corners are event spaces and resource centers that connect young leaders with the United States.  The Corner will host online and in-person educational programs, including Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) events.  The state-of-the-art Lincoln Corner at NUST is located in the campus’s Central Library.  It includes a Maker Space equipped with a 3-D printer and virtual reality headsets, a comprehensive book and magazine collection, resources on pursuing higher education in the United States, digital information resources, and an Americana-themed event space.  

For more information about Lincoln Corners, please visit the U.S. Embassy website or the Lincoln Corners Pakistan Facebook page.  To download high-quality pictures from today’s event, please visit this Flickr page: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjzY6Ks  

 

 

 

United States Donates Four Mobile Laboratories to Strengthen Pakistan’s COVID-19 Testing

Dr. Jassim Taqui

DG Al-Bab Institute for Strategic Studies

Islamabad, July 7, 2022: The U.S. government, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), presented four mobile laboratories valued at $4.6 million to Pakistan’s National Institute of Health to strengthen Pakistan’s capacity to diagnose COVID-19 and other communicable diseases.  The state-of-the-art facilities will improve the accuracy of diagnoses, reduce testing turnaround time, and better protect healthcare workers, especially in remote locations where access to testing is limited.  U.S. Ambassador to Pakistan Donald Blome and Federal Minister of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination Mr. Abdul Qadir Patel attended the handover ceremony, along with other officials from the Ministry of Health Services Regulations and Coordination.

Addressing Pakistani health officials and workers at the handover event, Ambassador Blome commended Pakistan for its effective response to the COVID-19 pandemic and highlighted Pakistan’s successful vaccination campaigns to quickly inoculate its citizens.  He commented on the success of the U.S.-Pakistan collaboration to strengthen health care over the 75 years of bilateral relations between the two countries.  Today’s donation supports this partnership by providing Pakistan with new tools to respond quickly to future threats.

“These mobile laboratories will strengthen the diagnostic capacity of provincial health departments,” Ambassador Blome said. “They will enable the government to respond quickly and effectively in hard-to-reach remote areas during emergencies, an outbreak, or an epidemic.”

Federal Minister of National Health Services Patel expressed gratitude for the U.S. government’s support to improve health services in Pakistan and said the support reflects the strong bilateral relations between Pakistan and the United States.

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, USAID has worked to save lives and contain the outbreak in more than 120 countries, including Pakistan.  USAID’s ongoing assistance provides emergency relief, strengthens health systems, supports vaccine readiness and distribution, improves public health education, and protects health care workers and facilities. 

The United States has provided 61.5 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines to Pakistan, one million COVID-19 rapid diagnostic tests, and critical health supplies and training to health workers.  These efforts are in addition to over $70 million in direct support and $13.8 million of in-kind support that the U.S. government has donated to assist the Pakistani people.    
For more information on USAID assistance programs in Pakistan, please click on www.usaid.gov/pakistan

 

 

 

U.S. SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE SYED: WE MUST SEIZE OPPORTUNITY TO BOOST COMMERCIAL AND ECONOMIC TIES

Dr. Jassim Taqui

DG Al-Bab Institute for Strategic Studies

Islamabad, July 7, 2022: U.S. Special Representative (S/R) for Commercial and Business Affairs Dilawar Syed visited Islamabad July 1-3 as part of a multi-city trip to Pakistan. During his visit, S/R Syed underscored the U.S. government’s commitment to growing U.S.-Pakistan commercial and economic ties.

In his meetings with Pakistan’s Ministers of Finance, Commerce, and Foreign Affairs, S/R Syed stressed the decades-long history of economic partnership between the United States and Pakistan. “U.S.-Pakistan trade and investment cooperation is an ongoing, essential part of our bilateral relationship. In my discussions with Pakistani leaders from government, business, and civil society, we are exploring concrete ways in which we can build on that relationship to benefit both of our countries,” he noted.

“The United States continues to encourage Pakistan to improve the business climate to make it easier for U.S. businesses to invest, operate, and create jobs. U.S. companies can introduce new technologies and generate returns that translate into higher incomes for local workers and capital for additional investments,” he noted. “We already have a strong base. We hope Pakistan will continue implementing reforms to make it more attractive for global investors.”

S/R Syed also met with representatives from the Board of Investment where he noted that the United States is Pakistan’s largest single-country export market and one of Pakistan’s largest sources of foreign investment, adding, “We must capitalize on that potential and nurture even greater economic ties.”

As he listened to representatives of women-led businesses, incubators, and chambers of commerce, S/R Syed stressed that “the United States will broaden our bilateral trade, boost investment, and expand entrepreneurial and educational opportunities to build on 75 years of our relationship.”

 

 

 Assistant Secretary of State for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) Todd D. Robinson visited

Islamabad June, 29 - July 2 to discuss the U.S.-Pakistani partnership, highlighting the 75^th anniversary of bilateral relations.

During his visit, Assistant Secretary Robinson met with senior government officials to discuss U.S.-Pakistan cooperation on several topics, including counternarcotics, gender issues, transnational crime, and border security.  Assistant Secretary Robinson also took part in celebrating the 75 years of U.S.-Pakistani relations and INL’s 40-year partnership with Pakistan under the theme “justice, security, and prosperity.”

On June 30, the Assistant Secretary participated in the groundbreaking of the Anti-Narcotics Force Academy (ANF) construction and training project, valued at $2.2 million (451.7 million PKR), hosted by implementing partner United Nations Development Program (UNDP).  Ministry of Narcotics Control Minister Shahzain Bugti and ANF Director General Ghulam Shabbir Narejo also attended.

“On behalf of the U.S. Government, I thank UNDP and ANF for their efforts and partnership with INL on our common objectives of combatting drugs transiting through Pakistan and promoting the recruitment, retention, advancement, and gender mainstreaming of women police in Pakistan,” said Robinson.

The Assistant Secretary also attended a ceremony to celebrate the delivery of $1.44 million (295.7 million PKR) of commodities to the Excise, Taxation and Narcotics Control of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, a KP provincial agency that has a drug interdiction mandate.  In his remarks, Robinson stated, “The fight against drugs and illicit contraband is a priority for Pakistan, the United States, and the international community, and I recognize that Pakistan faces special challenges because of its neighborhood. But when we work together, we achieve great things.”

On July 1, the Assistant Secretary joined Inspector General of Frontier Corps Khyber Pakhtunkhwa North Major General Adil Yamin, Inspector General of Frontier Corps Khyber Pakhtunkhwa South Major General Muhammad Munir Afsar, and senior Frontier Corps leadership for an inauguration and agreement signing ceremony for two joint projects worth approximately $10.5 million (2.1 billion PKR).  The inauguration celebrated completion of 45 new structures at FC KP North’s Warsak Training Center, including accommodation barracks for 500 men and 128 women, classrooms, and facilities for physical training.  Officials also signed an agreement for the construction of women’s facilities at eight existing FC KP South regional headquarters.  The U.S. government-funded project will provide barracks, dining halls, kitchens, and other facilities that will support stationing of up to 128 women Frontier Corps members at each location.  Regarding the women’s facilities, Robinson said, “The United States is pleased to partner with Pakistan to enhance opportunities for women to access justice and to participate in the administration of justice.”

 Press Release: U.S. Mission Pakistan Celebrates Pakistani Women for Completing Inaugural USPWC Future of Women in Energy Scholars Program

Dr. Jassim Taqui

DG Al-Bab Institute for Strategic Studies

Islamabad, July 3, 2022: U.S. Agency for International Development Mission Director Reed Aeschliman presided over a graduation ceremony for 17 female Pakistani university students who successfully completed the U.S.-Pakistan Women’s Council (USPWC) Future of Women in Energy Scholar’s pilot program. The graduation ceremony took place at the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad.

This inaugural four-week program encourages women to consider careers in the energy sector and advances the role women play in Pakistan’s.  All of the participants are female Pakistani undergraduate students pursuing degrees in the sciences.  The program is a product of a U.S. commitment to advance women’s educational and economic participation in Pakistan’s energy sector at the U.S.-Pakistan Energy Dialogue held in September 2021.

Mission Director Reed said during the graduation ceremony: “As we celebrate 75 years of relations with Pakistan this year, today’s milestone shows the scope of this amazing partnership.  This program supports women’s empowerment, education, and job opportunities.  It shows the depth and breadth of our mutual commitment and the opportunities for further cooperation.”

The program, a cooperative effort between USPWC, U.S. Mission Pakistan, the U.S. Department of State, the U.S. Department of Energy, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), Texas A&M University, and Texas A&M University at Qatar, kicked off with a two-week study program at Texas A&M University’s campus in Qatar on June 3.  Scholars learned about energy topics such as energy infrastructure, energy security, and the role of women in the energy sector, and developed independent projects on different facets of the energy economy.  The students returned to Pakistan for a two-week career immersion program in Islamabad and Lahore, visiting public and private sector companies and agencies involved in Pakistan’s energy sector.  The students developed a practical understanding of the multifaceted challenges faced by Pakistan's energy sector.

Many Pakistani and international companies and public-sector employers keen to promote women’s participation in the energy sector also contributed to the program.  Expanding diversity and inclusion of women is essential to realize a clean and secure energy future for Pakistan.

The U.S.-Pakistan Women’s Council is a public-private partnership that seeks to increase women’s economic participation in Pakistan by catalyzing commitments from the private sector, civil society, and government leaders in both countries to advance women’s economic empowerment in Pakistan.  Its members include Pepsico, Coca Cola, Citi, General Electric, Procter and Gamble, S&P Global, the Resource Group, Engro, the Hashoo Group, the American Business Council and U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s U.S.-Pakistan Business Council among other leading champions of gender equity.

 

 

 Expansion of Interview Waiver Eligibility for U.S. Visa Holders from Pakistan

Dr. Jassim Taqui

DG Al-Bab Institute for Strategic Studies

Islamabad, July 1, 2022: The United States Mission in Pakistan is pleased to announce the expansion of interview waiver eligibility at the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad and the U.S. Consulate General in Karachi for Pakistani citizens who are renewing B1/B2 tourist and business visas.  Pakistani citizens of ages 45 and older and whose B1/B2 visas are valid or have expired within the last 48 months are eligible to participate. 

This is a procedural change to provide better customer service and more efficiently process renewals of tourist and business visas for qualified and eligible Pakistani citizens.  As required by U.S. law, some eligible visa holders may be required to appear at the U.S. Embassy or U.S. Consulate General for interviews after submission of their applications.   

Applicants may visit our website at https://www.ustraveldocs.com/pk/pk-niv-visarenew.asp to determine if they are eligible for an interview waiver. 

For further details and answers to other questions, please visit: https://www.ustraveldocs.com/pk/pk-gen-faq.asp.