By Mehrab Shah Afridi
ISLAMABAD: US Embassy Islamabad’s Chargé d’Affaires Natalie A. Baker joined the minister of state for education, Wajiha Qamar, to inaugurate a new purpose-built building of the United States Educational Foundation in Pakistan (USEFP) in Islamabad, marking a significant milestone in the longstanding US-Pakistan educational partnership.
Baker said that as the United States approached its 250th anniversary in 2026, the new USEFP building would showcase America’s founding ideals and global impact, using the moment to strengthen relations between the two countries. This year also marked the 75th anniversary of the Fulbright program in Pakistan.
Designed as a central US-supported hub for learning and exchange, the new five-storey, 9,755-square-metre complex will expand access to educational resources, empower Pakistani students and educators, and promote innovation. By bringing EducationUSA advising services, a Lincoln Corner, training spaces and public programs under one roof, the building aims to equip Pakistan’s next generation with the knowledge and skills needed to succeed in a global economy.
The event was attended by the US 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; the USEFP executive director, Peter Moran; the USEFP chair, Kamal Uddin Tipu; artist and poet Dr Raja Changez Sultan; and a number of senior figures from Pakistan’s academic and government sectors.
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 taken part in USEFP-administered exchanges, enriching academic and cultural ties between the two nations.
