Scholarships in Pakistan-An Overview

Situation of scholarships in Pakistan is not appreciating as compared to the requirement. Due to passage of time economic and educational situation of our country is declining resulting in greater shortfall of money and increasing requirement of scholarships.

Many students cannot continue their education or cannot access the renowned institutes of the world due to lack of scholarships and finances, although they are fully capable to be inducted in them.

In Pakistan few scholarships are offered on the basis of quota system and few are based on available funding. Few scholarship programs are offered of provincial basis, national basis, funded by international organizations (like Chinese Government, United Nations, World Bank) etc.

Below stated are few different scholarships offered to needy, deserving and capable students:

1.Higher Education Commission Scholarships for students to study abroad

2. Higher Education Commission Scholarships for students of Baluchistan and FATA

3.Faujji Foundation Scholarships

4.Educational Scholarships by government

5.Ministry of Education Scholarships

6.Internal Merit Scholarship by Punjab

7.National ICT Scholarship program

8.Talented Students Scholarships

9.Business Scholarships

Following are few important aspects of current situations of scholarships in Pakistan:

1.Influence of high level profiles on scholarships that results in distribution to non deserving students and relevant learners are pushed back

2.Government quota for officials only

3.External funding for personal benefits restricted to individuals and their know persons

4.Corrupt setup allowing non worthy student to get the share

5.Weak economy of the country

6.Interests of international organizations to support their other operations in Pakistan

7.Lengthy procedures causing unnecessary delays and also wastage of funding due to completion of financial year

8.Selection criteria of eligible students is not effective

9.Political influence

10.Lack of information and publicity, barring access to the deserving students on relevant scholarship programs

Article By:
Shahid Awan
Lecturer CMAT Medical College Faisalabad