Federal Finance Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar on Wednesday launched Prime Minister’s Fee Reimbursement Scheme for the youth of less-developed areas of the country.
The finance minister, who was the chief guest at the scheme’s inaugural ceremony held at the Governor’s House, said, “Realising youth as an asset of the country, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif-led government has launched six programs for the youth; fee reimbursement scheme being one of them.”
The ceremony was attended by Balochistan Governor Mohammad Khan Achakzai, Balochistan Chief Minister Dr Abdul Malik Baloch, Federal Minister for SAFRON Gen (r) Abdul Qadir Baloch, Minister for State for Higher Education Engr Balighur Rehman, Higher Education Commission Chairman Prof Dr Mokhtar Ahmed, Balochistan senior minister Nawab Sanaullah Zehri, provincial ministers, MPAs, senior officials and a large number of university students.
Dar said that to improve quality of education, government has planned to bear the expenses of the students in less-developed areas studying in masters, MPhil and PhD programmes.
The minister noted that Rs 1.20 billion has been earmarked for Fee Reimbursement Scheme and as many as 33,440 students of 59 districts of the country would be the beneficiaries including 5,948 students from 32 districts of Balochistan.
Dar said the federal government was extending all-out support to the Balochistan government in its effort to overcome the economic crises and poor law and order situation.
“We endorse the process of negotiations and want to bring the disgruntled Baloch into the mainstream,” he said while lauding the endeavours of the Balochistan chief minister for creating conducive political environment in the province.
Terming the progress of Balochistan as one of the top priorities of the premier, the finance minister said the incumbent government had launched various uplift schemes to bring prosperity in the province.
“Rs 162 billion have been allocated for Pak-China Economic Corridor Project while completion of Gadani Power Park Project and Gwadar-Khanjrab Road Project will usher a new era of development in the region,” he said.
