German-Pakistani scholarship program launched for Afghan refugee students in Pakistan

'Afghanistan needs young people who are talented, well-educated, professionally experienced'

ISLAMABAD:

German institutions have announced 30 scholarships worth Rs30,000 each per month for Afghan students studying in Pakistani universities.

The German Hanns Seidel Foundation (HSF), in collaboration with its implementation partner the National Dialogue Forum (NDF), started the new flagship project 'Hanns Seidel Scholarship Program (HSSP)', which aims to support Afghan refugees in Pakistan.

Along with financial and conceptual support, the scholarship holders will also be given the opportunity to equip themselves with professional skills through on-the-job training.

German Ambassador to Pakistan Bernhard Schlagheck, addressing the opening ceremony of the scholarship said: "Afghanistan needs young people who are talented, educated, professionally experienced and can contribute to the reconstruction of their country.”

Afghanistan needs talented young people for positive change, he said, adding that Germany was playing its part.

Pakistan's Ambassador to Afghanistan Mansoor ul Haq said that there are ample opportunities for cooperation and trade between the two countries.

According to Haq, to alleviate the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, the international community needs to think about restoring banking resources in the war-torn country so that arrangements can be made to spend the aid that is being sent to Kabul.

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Dr. Steffen Kudella, Resident Representative of HSF Pakistan, stressed that education is the most sustainable form of international cooperation and political stabilisation.

The Executive Director of NDF, Sheharyar Khan, said the scholarship is an opportunity for Afghan students to excel in their academic pursuits and play a much-needed leadership role in the rebuilding of their country.

The first 23 selected HSSP scholarship holders also attended the event and were presented with HSSP laptops for their academic studies by the German ambassador.

HSSP includes around 30 full financial grants positions per year for all Afghan students with an above-average academic record, volunteer experience and democratic and regional interest.