As someone who belongs to Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and has a deep love for the entire country, including all its provinces, it is very painful for me to see many students being left out of the Punjab government’s Student Scholarship Programme just because they do not hold the domicile of Punjab province.
There are a large number of students from other provinces who have completed their entire education in Punjab and whose families live and pay taxes there like any other citizen. Despite being on merit, many such students have been declared ineligible for the scholarship programme due to the domicile policy. This discrimination creates distances and discourages deserving students.
All four provinces of Pakistan are equal, and all Pakistani students should be treated equally. Scholarships should be granted based on merit and need rather than domicile. The authorities concerned should review this policy and ensure equal opportunities for all.
Uzma Gul Shinwari
Rawalpindi
