ABBOTTABAD, Aug 29: The Ministry of Science and Technology has stopped awarding merit scholarships for brilliant students in COMSATS for the new academic year. However, students already getting this facility will continue to receive scholarship money till the completion of their degree course.

It may be mentioned that COMSATS, established here in September 2001, had started scholarship programme for bright students. Under the scheme, a certain number of students in every faculty were given fee relaxation every year which came to Rs12,000 to Rs15,000 per semester.

Students studying in bachelor and master degree courses of computer science, electronics and mathematics received this fee concession. Of the total strength of 1,400, at least 200 students benefited from the scheme, which promoted competition among students and gave them incentive to excel and be eligible to receive this reward.

Students admitted to the institution for its new semester - due to commence from Aug 30 - have appealed to the ministry's high-ups, especially Dr Attaur Rehman who is one of the COMSATS founders, to continue this facility.

The institution is growing fast and recently two new faculties have started functioning. They are Developmental Studies and Environmental Sciences where the facility of scholarship is still available to new students.