Uplift of underprivileged strata top priority, says PM Imran

Premier distributes scholarships to first batch of deserving students under Ehsaas programme

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The top most priority of the Pakistan Tehreeke-e-Insaf (PTI) government is the uplift of the weakest segment of the society, Prime Minister Imran Khan said while distributing scholarships to the first batch of deserving students under the Ehsaas programme in Islamabad on Monday.

The programme, spearheaded by Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety Dr Sania Nishtar, aims to “enhance access to higher education by awarding 50,000 scholarships” to undergraduate students from underprivileged families and areas over the next four years.

The scholarship programme will cover tuition and other fees, plus a stipend to cover essential expenses. The continuation of scholarship in future years will depend upon the maintenance of academic performance by the student.

The federal government has allocated Rs24 billion for the programme.

“I follow state of Madinah as my role model and by following this model, our government will look after the underprivileged segment of the society on a priority basis,” PM Imran said while addressing the ceremony.

He said under this programme, 50,000 students will be given scholarship from across the country and the budget for the scheme will be increased with the time.

The prime minister lamented that due to the existence of multiple educational standards in the country, the common man is unable to compete with the “elites” of the country.

“Elites have taken over all the resources of the country,” he added.

Prime Minister Imran also congratulated Dr Nishtar for launching the undergraduate scholarship programme.

It may be noted that 50 per cent of scholarships are reserved for female students while two per cent are for students with special needs.

The programme will be overseen by the Ehsaas Scholarships Steering Committee and co-chaired by HEC and BISP chairpersons.