The Higher Education Commission (HEC) has initiated various fully-funded scholarship schemes exclusively for students of Balochistan and erstwhile Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA). While briefing the Senate Functional Committee on Problems of Less Developed Areas which held here with Senator Muhammad Usman Khan Kakar in the chair on Tuesday, HEC chairman Prof Tariq Banuri told that 22,481 students of Balochistan and 8,391 students of FATA were provided full scholarships.
He briefed the committee about the overall performance of HEC including funds allocated, utilized and surrendered for each project and scholarship programmes for the people of less developed areas of all provinces and FATA during the last three years. An official of HEC briefed the committee about the progress report in the light of budget proposals made during the last two years for the people of less-developed areas.
The committee was further informed that 3,900 scholarships for undergraduate, MBBS, engineering and many other disciplines and postgraduate studies (MS/M Phil) were awarded on the basis of 50 percent for each region, besides 200 overseas PhD scholarships and 400 local scholarships for the students of Balochistan under Aghaz-e-Haqooq-e- Balochistan scheme.
Moreover, 6 percent quota is for students from Balochistan and 2 percent for students from the FATA in all government funded scholarships schemes run by the HEC, told the HEC chairman. The committee directed HEC officials to ensure the allocation of scholarships to genuine students of Balochistan and other less-developed areas, as it has been observed that some people on fake/bogus documents take advantage from such programs.
To promote and enhance the literacy rate in underdeveloped and backward areas of the country, the government allocated Rs 700 million, besides taking other necessary steps including giving scholarships to the students of these areas, the HEC officials said. The HEC officials further said at present the Chinese language is being taught to the students in 20 local universities, adding now the HEC along with other stakeholders is planning to launch the Chinese language courses in far-flung areas of Balochistan.
Around 22,483 students from Balochistan have been provided tuition fee for their studies while 8,391 FATA students also have been benefited from the same scheme. Around 51 scholarships are also awarded for students of Gwadar district of Balochistan. The committee chairman took up the issue of student unions in higher education institutions. The officials said students have every right to be well-informed and to establish platforms to facilitate them with a forum for collective reflection of their issues. However, the politicization of unions, as has been the case in the past often resulting in strikes and academic calendar disruption, cannot be encouraged.
Earlier, the committee also approved the minutes of meeting held on July 12, 2017. Besides other relevant officials, the meeting was also attended by caretaker Federal Minister for Professional and Technical Training Muhammad Yusuf Shaikh, Senator Hasil Khan Bizenjo, Senator Molvi Faiz Muhammad, Senator Fida Muhammad and Senator Haji Momin Khan Afridi.