Higher Education Commission (HEC) has awarded 2,528 foreign and 4,108 indigenous scholarships to various scholars in the last five years, said an official of the Ministry of Education, Training and Standards in Higher Education.
The official said the HEC has sent 4,204 scholars abroad and has also extended financial assistance to 8,178 students under different need-based programmes in last five years.
Giving details of the foreign scholarships, he said 1,432 foreign scholarships including 238 to female scholars of Punjab have been awarded in last five years.
A total of 304 scholarships including 68 to female scholars hailing from Sindh have been awarded since 2008.
Yet other 482 scholarships including 43 to female scholars have been awarded to the students of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. While 75 scholarships including 13 to female students of Balochistan have also been awarded in last five years, he said.
Likewise, 116 scholarships including 25 to female scholars belonging to Azad Jammu and Kashmir have been awarded.
The other 39 scholarships including one to female scholars of Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) have been awarded.
The 10 scholarships including two to female scholars have been awarded in Gilgit-Baltistan and 70 scholars have been awarded to the scholars of Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) while 17 scholarships have been awarded to female scholars of ICT.