Islamabad, November 3,2026: The UK Government’s prestigious Chevening Scholarship programme and Allied Bank Limited (ABL) have launched a new partnership to provide talented Pakistani students with fully funded opportunities to pursue master’s degrees at leading universities in the United Kingdom.
Under the partnership, Allied Bank has become the first organisation in Pakistan to establish a locally funded Chevening Scholarship programme, bringing together the UK’s flagship international scholarship initiative and Pakistan’s private sector to invest in the country’s next generation of leaders.
The Chevening-ABL Scholarship will support two Pakistani scholars annually over three academic years, beginning in 2027-28. Selected candidates will pursue studies in fields considered important for Pakistan’s future development, including artificial intelligence, technology, cybersecurity, digital transformation, economics and financial inclusion.
British High Commissioner to Pakistan Jane Marriott CMG OBE welcomed the initiative, saying Pakistan’s greatest strength lies in its people.
She said the partnership would enable talented future leaders to study at world-leading UK universities and return home with fresh ideas, knowledge and experience to contribute to Pakistan’s development.
Marriott also described the partnership as particularly meaningful because a former Chevening Scholar is now helping open similar opportunities for the next generation of Pakistani students.
The initiative marks a full-circle moment for Allied Bank President and Chief Executive Officer Aizid Gill, who studied MSc Business Economics at the University of Manchester in 2001 under the Chevening Scholarship programme.
Twenty-five years later, he is helping create similar opportunities for talented young Pakistanis through the new partnership.
Speaking on the occasion, Gill said the ABL-Chevening Scholarship aimed to provide talented Pakistanis with opportunities to learn, develop their capabilities and bring valuable international exposure back to their homeland.
He said Allied Bank remained committed to supporting the next generation of leaders by helping them acquire the knowledge and skills required to make meaningful contributions to the country’s future.
According to the announcement, the first two Chevening-ABL scholars for the 2027-28 academic year will be selected from the existing pool of applicants.
Applications for the 2028-29 Chevening-ABL Scholarships are expected to open in August 2027 as part of the regular Chevening application cycle, with successful candidates scheduled to begin their studies in the United Kingdom in 2028.
The partnership marks a new avenue of cooperation between the UK and Pakistan, particularly in higher education, skills development and investment in young leadership.
