PM launches Ehsaas Undergraduate Scholarship Program

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday launched the largest-ever Ehsaas Undergraduate Scholarship Program under which fifty thousand scholarships will be provided to undergraduates each year.

Addressing the lauch ceremony, the prime minister hoped that the scholarships to deserving and talented students will give them an opportunity to excel in life. He said the poor-friendly Ehsaas programme will bring a remarkable change in various areas of society, and the scholarships programme is a big step towards higher education.

PM Imran Khan said allocating quota for physically-challenged persons and females is an indication that government believes in inclusive policies for the development of the country. He said women are the builders of the family and the nation, and this scholarship will help them bring to mainstream.

The prime minister said he founded the Namal University in Mianwali for technical education to equip the youth of the area with skills in demand so that they could get jobs and change the economic situation of their families. He said students from poor households were awarded scholarships to enable them to get education despite having poor socio-economic background.

PM Khan said start of Ehsaas program is derived from the concept of State of Madinah. Under this concept, the state is taking responsibility of all vulnerable segments of society. He said that Health Insaf cards, Langar scheme and other initiatives will make the dream come true true.

He said a ration program will be introduced in which the poorest of the poor families will be provided with flour, ghee, pulses, sugar and other essential items. He said a new database is being created in order to target real deserving people to benefit from these programs.

#EhsaasForStudents: The largest undergraduate scholarship program ever launched in the history of Pakistan

50,000 Scholarships per year
200,000 Scholarships in 4 years pic.twitter.com/f69pvIzrkK

— Ehsaas (@Ehsaas_Pk) November 4, 2019

The prime minister appreciated the work of Dr Sania Nishtar who is taking initiatives to bring improvements in the life of common man.

Addressing the event, Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Social Protection and Poverty Alleviation Dr Sania Nishtar said this is the biggest scholarship program in the history of the country started under the joint venture of BISP and Higher Education Commission (HEC).

The SAPM said Rs5 billion will be allocated annually and 50,000 undergraduate students will be given scholarships each year along with accommodation expenses.She said 50 percent scholarships will be given to women students while two percent to physically-disabled persons.

She said these scholarships will be given on need and merit basis. The scholarships will be provided in Agriculture, Arts and Humanities, Business Education, Engineering, Medical, Physical Sciences, and Social Sciences.

She said the HEC provided scholarships to 30,000 undergraduates in last 14 years while 50,000 scholarships will be given in a year under this program which is a exemplary step. This program will be further expanded in all four provinces including erstwhile tribal areas and Gilgit-Baltistan.