Feeling sidelined: FATA Student Federation demands resumption of scholarship

FSF president claims the future of tribal students is at risk because of biased quota system.

PESHAWAR: Students from the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) protested against the suspension of scholarships to tribal students studying in institutions across the country. They held a demonstration which culminated outside the Peshawar Press Club on Monday.

FATA Student Federation (FSF) President Khan Bahadur Wazir led the protestors, chanting slogans against the political administration and the governor. They held a walk from Government College to the press club.



The students also demanded an increase in quota for those from Fata and the extension of the laptop distribution scheme to the tribal and frontier regions.

“Under the Punjab endowment fund, 25 seats each were allotted to Fata and Balochistan. But, under political pressure, the number of seats for Balochistan have been increased to 400 while the original allotment for Fata remains the same,” claimed Wazir.

Considering the ongoing war in Fata, the local economy has been affected greatly, but the federal government keeps on ignoring the tribal area, “This has put the future of students at risk.”

The PSF president also requested the Higher Education Commission to announce special scholarships for students from the tribal areas. “There is only one medical college in all of Fata,” pointed out Wazir. He demanded the quota for tribal students should be increased.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 3^rd, 2013.