HEC awards 1,000 need-based scholarships

As many as 1,000 needy students from across the country will get scholarships under Higher Education Commission (HEC) merit and needs-based scholarship programme.
This was decided in the first meeting of scholarship management committee held here Tuesday. The meeting was presided over by Dr Nasser Ali Khan, Member (Operation and Planning) HEC.
The selected students are enrolled in various disciplines at different public sector Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) located in various parts of the country. The needs based scholarship programme, costing 5 five billion, will provide opportunities for access to higher education especially to under privileged students belonging to remote and far flung areas of the country who despite possessing academic merit, are unable to finance their education.
Under this initiative, special emphasis is given to the students belonging to Balochistan, FATA, interior Sindh and Southern Punjab to support education of maximum number of academically qualified needy students from the very poor segments of the country.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr Nasser Ali Khan said that the HEC needs based scholarship programme has been especially designed to provide financial support from HEC recurring budget to Pakistani students who are facing difficulties in securing admission at HEIs because of financial constraints.
He said that HEC intends to award about 6000 scholarships during the period of three years under this program so that equitable access to higher education may be encouraged.
He also emphasized over the university representatives to undertake collaborative efforts to get maximum financial support for deserving students.
Advisor Human Resource Development Division, HEC Professor Dr Riaz Hussain Qureshi, in his opening remarks, said that this scholarship programme is an excellent opportunity for the talented yet needy and deserving students who are eligible to seek admission in HEIs on merit.
The meeting was attended by Professor Dr Mansoor Akber Kundi Vice Chancellor Gomal University DI Khan, Prof Samina Amin Qadir Vice Chancellor Fatima Jinnah University Rawalpindi, Prof Dr Khalid Khan former Vice Chancellor PMAS Arid University, Prof Jamila Qazi Registrar SBKWU Quetta while Director IBA Sukkar attended meeting through video conferencing. The representatives of twenty public sectors universities were also present on the occasion.