ISLAMABAD, June 15: The Ministry of Labour, Manpower and Overseas Pakistanis has decided to give about Rs80 million as scholarship to 5,000 children of workers all over the country.

Sources in the Workers Welfare Fund (WWF) of the Ministry of Labour, Manpower and Overseas Pakistanis said free education (up to Matric level) was being provided to almost 30,000 students in 38 schools constructed all over the country for the children of industrial workers.

They said 100 more English medium schools were under construction in the country and these would further help the workers’ children get better educational facilities.

They said the fund was aimed at providing quality education to children of workers in collaboration with OPF Girls College, Islamabad and Comsats Institute of Information Technology, Lahore to play an effective role in raising the literacy rate of the country.

They said the fund was providing 5,000 merit scholarships every year to talented children of workers studying in FSc to MSc, besides medical, engineering colleges and universities or any other recognized professional postgraduate institution.

They said the workers’ children, who were able to secure admission to cadet colleges and public schools of repute through open competition, were provided scholarships to meet the entire cost of boarding, lodging and tuition fee etc.

Giving the break up of the scholarship, the sources said annually 10 scholarships were approved for such children of workers who would get admissions to institutions like Nust, IBA Karachi, LUMS, and GIK Institute. Out of these 10 scholarships, three went to the Punjab, two to the NWFP, three to Sindh and two to Balochistan.

They said scholarship for day scholars in FA, FSc, I.Com, diploma in polytechnic or equivalent was Rs800, while students in boarding could get Rs1,100. Similarly, day scholars in BSc, BCom or equivalent were entitled to Rs1,150 while students in boarding could get Rs1,600.

For day scholars in MSc, MCom or equivalent, the scholarship was Rs1,500 while those availing the boarding facility could get Rs2,100. For day scholars in medical and engineering, the scholarship was Rs1,850 while for those in boarding, the amount was Rs2,800, they added.

The sources said in the past the limit was Rs5 million that was increased to Rs75 million for various projects meant for the welfare of workers at provincial level.

Talking on generation of funds, they said pursuant to the Workers Welfare Fund Ordinance, 1971, industrial establishments, including petroleum, exploration and production companies, deposited two per cent of their total income to the welfare fund.