Rafiullah Kakar, an HEC scholar belonging to Killa Abdullah Balochistan has successfully completed BA (Hons) in Political Science from Government College University GCU Lahore and qualified for Gold Medal and Academic Roll of Honor. He was awarded 4 years scholarship under HEC project ‘Provision of Higher Education Opportunities for Students of Balochistan & FATA’. He also served as the general secretary and president of Quaid-e-Azam Political Science Society, and won certificates of distinction for his participation in extra-curricular activities. AT GCU Lahore, he also got opportunity to participate in the US State Department Global UGRAD Exchange Program and studied at Augustana College, USA for one term. His research interests are identity politics and foreign policy in Pakistan, with a special focus on Balochistan. His work has been published in a number of national and international publications, including the Journal of Asian Politics and History. He has also been selected for 2013 Rhodes Scholar for Pakistan. The Rhodes scholarship to study at Oxford University in UK, one of the most prestigious awards in the world, is given to one Pakistani every year since 1951. Kakar grew up in one of the most hostile and backward regions of Pakistan and no one has gone to college in his family before him. Rafi in his remarks said that “I am glad to tell you that I am the Rhodes Scholar-elect 2013 from Pakistan. I am deeply indebted to my teachers, family and friends for their support and encouragement. In particular, it would like to give due credit, as I did in my brief Interview on television, to HEC for helping me reach this stage. The HEC Scholarship undoubtedly played a vital role in my academic progress. I hereby express my deepest and heart-felt gratitude to HEC for helping me reach this stage. This is a small token of gratitude to HEC and all the concerned and committed people there”. The Chairperson Higher Education Commission HEC Dr. Javaid R. Laghari and Acting Executive Director Engr. Syed Imtiaz Hussain Gilani have congratulated Mr. Mr. Rafiullah Kakar over his selection as Rhodes scholar for Pakistan for the year 2013. They have also assured that HEC would continue its role for provision of equitable access to higher education for the youth belonging to remote and rural areas of the country.
