Al-Azhar University Scholarship for Pakistani Students (Shari'ah Sciences)

Because of the scholarship's enduring popularity, demand consistently outstrips the number of available seats - in the most recent cycle, HEC announced that the quota had been increased from 30 to 50 seats to accommodate rising applicant numbers, reflecting how sought-after this program has become among students who complete Dars-e-Nizami, Shahadat-ul-Alamiya, or other religious-education qualifications recognized by Pakistani authorities.

Unlike most Pakistan-relevant Middle East scholarships that are open to any academic background, this program is specifically reserved for students who hold qualifications in Islamic Studies, Shari'ah Sciences, Shahadat-ul-Alamiya, or Dars-e-Nizami (or equivalent religious-education credentials recognized by HEC and the Ittehad Tanzeemat-ul-Madaris or similar bodies) - candidates from unrelated academic backgrounds are not eligible, which keeps competition concentrated among a well-defined applicant pool.

Selected students study and live in Cairo, immersed in classical Arabic instruction and a centuries-old scholarly tradition, with the scholarship covering tuition and providing a pathway that many Pakistani religious scholars, teachers, and Islamic-studies academics have used to build their credentials. The program is administered jointly by Al-Azhar's own international portal and the Pakistani Embassy/HEC liaison in Islamabad, which handles document attestation and submission on behalf of successful applicants.