Scholarship Overview
A federal fraud investigation was launched in Pakistan following an alleged fraudulent United States scholarship scheme. Laiba Ejaz, a 24-year-old physics gold medalist from the International Islamic University Islamabad, and her family were defrauded of 9.3 million Pakistani rupees (around $34,000) by suspects promising admission, a scholarship, and a visa for Harvard University.
The scheme involved fake paperwork, including a counterfeit receipt claiming $7,500 in tuition fees was paid for a master's program in physics. The forgery was uncovered during a visa interview at the US Embassy in Islamabad, and Harvard University confirmed the documents were unauthorized. Following directives from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and Islamabad Police initiated a criminal investigation.
Who Can Apply
Regarding official eligibility requirements or valid selection criteria for Harvard or related academic programs: Not specified in the source; please check the official notice.
The student targeted in this incident was a high-achieving physics graduate from Sargodha, Punjab province, who aimed to pursue a scientific career in the United States after declining a prior scholarship offer in Saudi Arabia.
Benefits
The suspects falsely promised the following terms:
- Admission to a master's program in physics at Harvard University.
- Arrangements for a study scholarship and a United States visa.
For legitimate funding amounts, covered expenses, or official financial support: Not specified in the source; please check the official notice.
How to Apply
The victim's family engaged an unauthorized education consultant who provided counterfeit admission and payment records. Official application procedures, deadlines, and authentic submission channels are not specified in the source; please check the official notice.
Students are advised to communicate directly with official university portals and diplomatic embassies to verify documents and avoid third-party consultancy scams.
Source: scholarships for pakistani students - BingNews · Published October 11, 2026 · Photo by EDGARD BORTOLETTO on Unsplash
Always confirm deadlines and eligibility on the official scholarship website.