HEC to implement fee payment scheme for students of far flung areas

The Higher Education Commission (HEC) expedited the process for the immediate implementation of the prime minister’s ‘Tuition Fee Payment Scheme’ for Masters, MS/M.Phil and Ph.D for students of Balochistan, Gilgit/Baltistan and FATA.
According to an HEC official, information regarding eligible students enrolled in universities and postgraduate colleges in Balochistan, Gilgit/Baltistan and FATA/KPK had been collected.
HEC had requested heads of 21 provincial higher education institutions and campuses of federal universities to provide a list of eligible students along with their fee details, so that funds could be released accordingly.
Through this initiative, the federal government, through HEC, would release funds to universities for the reimbursement of tuition fee and other mandatory fees.
The scheme focuses on enhancing opportunities of higher education, especially for talented but financially constrained students from remote and far flung areas, who despite possessing academic merit were unable to continue higher education studies.
The federal government, in a move to support the underdeveloped populace in Balochistan, FATA and Gilgit-Baltistan, had decided to pay the tuition fee of all students from these areas studying for Masters, M.Phil and PhD in reputable universities in the country.
An amount of Rs 500 million had been allocated for this, during the current financial year 2012-13.
Under this innovative and special scheme, the federal government would pay academic, incidental, or mandatory fees, along with the tuition fee, charged by educational institutions on a one-off or semester basis for students of Masters, M.Phil and PhD.
The fee disbursement was being ensured through a transparent and well defined mechanism.
Students who possessed a valid domicile/local certificate of Balochistan, FATA and Gilgit/Baltistan and were enrolled on merit in higher education institutions located in Balochistan, FATA and Gilgit/ Baltistan, were eligible for this programme.
The scheme, executed by HEC, had been introduced initially for five years, beginning in 2012-13, with a provision that students who enrolled in universities in the year 2016-17, would continue to be funded until they completed their academic programme.
The federal cabinet, in a meeting held on June 1, approved the ‘Tuition Fee Payment Scheme’ for students of Balochistan, FATA and Gilgit Baltistan during the financial year 2012-13.
Vice chancellors, academic circles and parents appreciated the new initiative announced by the prime minister, and said that it would be quite helpful in providing equitable access to higher education, especially to from remote areas of the country.