The Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) and the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish the Afghanistan Scholarship Programme (ASP), which was announced by President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani during his visit to Islamabad in November last year.
LUMS Vice Chancellor Prof Dr S Sohail H Naqvi represented LUMS while Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Janan Mosazai signed on behalf of the Government of Afghanistan. The representatives of both sides also attended the ceremony.
The Afghanistan Scholarship Programme (ASP) is an exclusive scholarship for talented Afghan students to study at LUMS in its graduate and undergraduate programmes. The ASP will provide scholarships to Afghan students who are admitted on merit.
“I am delighted to sign this agreement today that establishes a special scholarship program for talented Afghan students to study at LUMS, one of our region’s top centres of excellence,” said Ambassador Mosazai. “Developing our human resources in all fields constitutes a key pillar of HE President Ashraf Ghani’s vision for a peaceful, prosperous and self-reliant Afghanistan,” he continued.
“The arrival of Afghan students under the ASP in the Punjab Province will also create a new people-to-people link between the two countries, thus strengthening the existing solid bonds of brotherhood and friendship between Afghanistan and Pakistan,” added Ambassador Mosazai.
Speaking on the occasion, LUMS chancellor said that it was a grand opening, expanding upon centuries’ old connections and trade routes.
“It is a showcase moment for the whole world to see how two neighbouring countries can collaborate for betterment of each other. This scholarship scheme is extremely important as fresh new minds from Afghanistan will bring fresh concepts and challenges for our students and faculty at LUMS,” he said, adding “this is an opportunity to work jointly that will bring young students as Afghan ambassadors to Pakistan and when they go back to Afghanistan they will be Pakistan’s ambassadors in their own country. This programme will bring the two countries together the way they used to be.”
The Government of Afghanistan has allocated an initial fund of $ 1 million for this program, which will be complemented by an additional amount of $ 2 million announced for the programme by the Government of Pakistan.
LUMS plans to hold various marketing activities in Afghanistan to raise awareness of the programme. A “Summer Orientation Programme” will be organised for the ASP scholars to prepare them for regular classes at LUMS. An extensive “Faculty Training Programme” will be offered for the ASP scholars of Graduate Programme during their stay at LUMS.
The programme will commence from the Academic year 2015/16. LUMS is ready to welcome the first batch of students from Afghanistan.