Bank of Punjab to provide scholarship, research funds for IBA students

KARACHI: The Institute of Business Administration (IBA), Karachi and the Bank of Punjab (BoP) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to support the education of needy students from across Pakistan and fund research conducted by faculty on areas of mutual interests.

The MoU was signed by CEO and President of the Bank of Punjab, Zafar Masud and Executive Director IBA Dr. S Akbar Zaidi at a ceremony held at the IBA Karachi City Campus.

As per the agreement, under the scholarship program, financial assistance will be provided to five fresh undergraduate students from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, rural Sindh, Baluchistan and Southern Punjab regions for the duration of their studies under The BoP-IBA National Talent Hunt Program (NTHP).

The scholars will be supported completely for their educational expenses such as admission, tuition, hostel and mess charges.

The agreement will cover an all-expense paid scholarship to the children of the bank’s employees admitted to the IBA under any discipline. The BoP will also work on research projects of mutual interests with the IBA.

Speaking about the partnership, Masud said, “This collaboration between the IBA and BoP reinforces our commitment towards helping outstanding students from marginalized areas of Pakistan, without any preference for any particular province”.

He further said this will also serve as a ray of light for those families who are going through a testing time and are unable to meet their children’s educational expenses.

 “Employees of the bank are the biggest asset and their family welfare is my personal goal. Taking this objective ahead, this MOU will include extending full support for expensive higher education for the children of the BoP employees,” he added.

Appreciating the initiative, Dr. Zaidi said, “We are grateful to BoP for extending their support for meritorious students from underprivileged regions, who are about to join us in Fall this year”.

“This generosity will help our students and their families during this time of unprecedented crisis by giving them a gift of higher education and by providing for their better future. This collaboration reiterates the core value of BoP of enriching the lives of the community where it operates,” he added.