The UK is betting that Pakistan is going to do something really exciting. We believe Pakistan has the potential to become a strong, modern democracy, with a growing economy, stable and secure.
We believe this because Pakistan is at the heart of a region with serious potential for growth, because its economy is turning around and because the prospects of investment, not least from the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor are good.
We also believe that Pakistan has the right fundamentals - a young and dynamic population. I have seen for myself the dynamism, hard work and energy in this beautiful country.
You have the beginnings of a professional, intelligent and creative workforce. You have a large number of speakers of the world's lingua franca - English - a key skill in the 21st Century world.
The possibility of deeper economic reform, working with the IMF and other international partners, means that Pakistan is on the cusp of serious growth, reduction in poverty and a bright future.
This will not be easy. It will require hard work. You have to invest in infrastructure, energy, the environment, your economy and most of all education.
But we think you will. The UK is ready to place a bet on your future; we are on your side and ready to help. Last month the UK's official export credit agency, UK Export Finance, resumed support for export finance loans to government and other public agencies in Pakistan, and increased the amount of cover available to support UK trade with Pakistan by 50%.
This month we organised the biggest ever event that the UK has ever organised in Pakistan, the Great Festival in Karachi and Lahore.
The support for export finance, this festival and the work our trade and investment staff are doing back in the UK are saying one thing very clearly - Pakistan is increasingly open for business, and we think British companies should be investing here.
Another way we are supporting Pakistan is through the Chevening scholarship. We are placing a bet on young Pakistanis.
We are saying we will invest a large sum of money in a person we think has the potential to be a future leader of Pakistan; someone who can do amazing things. We will pay for a UK's master degree, travel and accommodation.
We have created an alumni network for returning scholars, so they can take advantage of a network of high-profile, high-potential, high-flying colleagues, and they can attend free events and seminars.
We believe that a UK education not only brings immediate benefits for individual scholars, but also long-term benefits for both Pakistan and the UK. That is why we are betting that Chevening scholars will go and create wealth, share knowledge and make Pakistan and the world a better, safer place.
The Chevening Scholarship has created hundreds of people who have done just that. We are so confident of our bet in Pakistan that last year we quadrupled the number of Chevening scholars from Pakistan. Over the past 33 years the Chevening scholarship programme in Pakistan has allowed more than 1300 Pakistanis to study in the best universities in the UK.
Right now, until 3 November, this year's Chevening scholarship is open for applications. If you have sixteen years education, two years' work experience and showing serious potential in your career, then you should apply for a Chevening scholarship by visiting Chevening website chevening.org/pakistan. We are making that bet on the future of Pakistan. Make a bet on yourself and apply to become a Chevening Scholar.
(The writer is British High Commissioner to Pakistan CMG OBE)
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