ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The project steering committee of Ehsaas Undergraduate Scholarship came to the table for the eighth time to review the process of scholarship disbursements for the FY2020/21.
The Prime Minister’s Special Assistant on Social Protection and Poverty Alleviation Dr. Sania Nishtar chaired the meeting.
For the FY 2020/21, a total of 69,130 scholarships worth Rs 6.53 billion are being awarded including 51% scholarships for girls and 4% for minorities.
The need cum merit-based Ehsaas Scholarship covers 100% tuition fee and a living stipend.
Chairing the meeting, Dr. Sania Nishtar said “Ehsaas is fully determined that no deserving student gets deprived of higher education.” Reflecting on the criteria, she emphasized to ensure that programme holistically benefits girls, minorities, differently-abled students as well as those from disadvantaged areas who applied for the scholarship.
Dr. Sania Nishtar also urged Higher Education Commission (HEC) to expedite and complete the payment process to universities and students before June 30, 2021.
The meeting also reviewed the pattern being followed for scholarship distribution and disbursements to 119 Public Sector Universities. The programme is on the track in its first two years of execution.
In the current year 2020-21, as many as 120,000 undergraduate students applied for Ehsaas scholarship through online portal. Students from low-income backgrounds studying in undergraduate programmes across 119 Public Sector Universities were eligible to apply.
Following due diligence procedures, overall 69,130 scholarships are being awarded nationwide for the current fiscal year.
Among these, 59% of the scholarships are being awarded to students from Punjab, 41% from Sindh, 61% from Balochistan, 51% from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 50% from Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) each and 45% to those from ICT.
As part of the policy, the scholarship support will be continued to awardees throughout the course of their undergraduate degree program based on their academic performance.
The Ehsaas undergraduate scholarship programme was officially launched by Prime Minister Imran Khan on November 4, 2019.
The geographical spread of the programme covers all four provinces, AJK and GB. According to the programme design, 200,000 undergraduate scholarships are being given in 4 years to enhance financial access to higher education for brilliant yet deserving students.
Fifty percent scholarships are reserved for girls. This scholarship programme is part of the overarching Ehsaas framework. The human capital development lies at the core of Ehsaas agenda.
These Ehsaas scholarships will boost education in the Country, reduce poverty, and will contribute towards inclusive development.
