Allied Bank Initiates Chevening Scholarship Partnership in Pakistan
Allied Bank has taken a significant step by becoming the first organisation in Pakistan to establish a locally funded partnership with the Chevening Scholarship programme. This initiative combines the UK’s premier international scholarship programme with the resources of Pakistan’s private sector, aiming to invest in the development of future leaders in the country.
The Chevening programme collaborates with over 140 organisations worldwide, including private enterprises, non-governmental organisations, foreign governmental departments, and institutions within the UK. Through the newly established Chevening-ABL Scholarship, two scholars will be awarded support each year for three academic years, commencing in the 2027-28 academic session.
Empowering Future Leaders
The selected scholars will focus on critical subjects vital to Pakistan’s growth trajectory, such as artificial intelligence, technology, cybersecurity, digital transformation, economics, and financial inclusion. British High Commissioner Jane Marriott CMG OBE emphasised the importance of this partnership, stating, “Pakistan’s greatest strength is its people. This partnership will help impressive future leaders to study at world-leading UK universities and bring fresh ideas home.”
Marriott also noted the significance of having a former Chevening Scholar like Aizid Gill, the President and CEO of Allied Bank, now facilitating similar opportunities for the next generation. Gill himself studied for an MSc in Business Economics at the University of Manchester as a Chevening Scholar in 2001, and he sees this initiative as a full-circle moment in his professional journey.
Commitment to National Development
Aizid Gill expressed his enthusiasm for the scholarship programme, stating, “The ABL-Chevening Scholarship is about giving talented Pakistanis the opportunity to learn, grow, and bring that exposure back home. Through this partnership, Allied Bank strengthens its support towards enabling the next generation of leaders.” He hopes that the knowledge and skills gained by these scholars will contribute meaningfully to the future of Pakistan.
The first two recipients of the Chevening-ABL Scholarship will be chosen from the existing applicant pool for the 2027-28 academic year. Furthermore, applications for the following academic year, 2028-29, are anticipated to open during the Chevening application cycle in August 2027, with successful candidates commencing their studies in the UK in 2028.
About the Chevening Programme
Chevening represents the UK Government’s international scholarship initiative, funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) alongside partner organisations. Since its inception in 1983, Chevening has provided fully funded one-year master’s degrees at UK universities to future leaders, covering tuition fees, living expenses, and travel costs. Nearly 60,000 individuals from over 160 countries and territories have benefited from this programme, including almost 2,000 from Pakistan, who are now making contributions across various sectors such as education, governance, health, climate change, business, and civil society, thereby reinforcing the ties between the UK and Pakistan.
Aizid Gill, who graduated as a Chevening Scholar, stands among Pakistan’s distinguished alumni who have developed significant careers since their studies in the UK. This new partnership marks a promising chapter in the ongoing commitment to fostering educational and professional opportunities for aspiring Pakistani leaders.