U.S. Chargé d’Affaires Natalie A. Baker and Pakistan’s Minister of State for Education Wajiha Qamar inaugurated a new building for the United States Educational Foundation in Pakistan (USEFP) in Islamabad on December 8, 2025. The event marked a significant step in the ongoing educational collaboration between the United States and Pakistan, coinciding with the 75th anniversary of the Fulbright program in Pakistan.
The new USEFP facility is a five-story complex covering 9,755 square meters. It brings together EducationUSA advising services, a Lincoln Corner, training spaces, and public programs under one roof. The aim is to provide greater access to educational resources for Pakistani students and educators while supporting innovation and skill development.
During the ribbon-cutting ceremony, U.S. Department of State officials Sherry Keneson-Hall and Shelly Seaver joined USEFP Executive Director Peter Moran, USEFP Chair Kamal Uddin Tipu, artist Dr. Raja Changez Sultan, and other guests from academia and government.
Chargé d’Affaires Baker highlighted the broader significance of the new building: “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 said.
USEFP was established in 1950 as a binational commission dedicated to promoting mutual understanding through educational exchanges. Over its history, more than 9,000 Pakistanis and nearly 1,000 Americans have participated in its programs.
The opening of this new facility reflects ongoing efforts by both countries to support educational opportunities that prepare young people for participation in an increasingly interconnected world.