Unfulfilled commitments: Around 70 students in Bannu yet to receive scholarship

The scholarships were approved by the federal cabinet in 2012.

PESHAWAR: The Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) Students Federation in Bannu on Tuesday claimed around 70 students studying at the University of Science and Technology (UST) are deprived of the scholarship announced by the prime minister.

The students are enrolled in masters, MPhil and PhD programmes and were admitted last year.

Addressing a news conference at the Peshawar Press Club, Fata Students Federation UST President Ikramullah Dawar said these students hail from the tribal areas and cannot afford education expenses.



“The PM had announced that students from Fata enrolled in all public universities in the province will get scholarships, but so far no one has received it,” said Dawar, who was accompanied by a number of students at the press club.

He said the Higher Education Commission (HEC) should immediately release the scholarship funds to deserving students so they can pay their tuition fees. Dawar also threatened to launch a strike if the problem was not addressed, adding the government must announce scholarships to encourage students to pursue higher education.

The scholarships announced by the PM cover tuition fees, academic, institutional and other mandatory fees for students from Fata, Balochistan and Gilgit-Baltistan. It was approved by the federal cabinet for five years – from 2012 till 2016.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 17^th, 2013.