DERA GHAZI KHAN, April 23: Hundreds of students of Technical Education and Vocational Training Authority (Tevta) institutions in Dera Ghazi Khan and Rajanpur have been denied scholarships by the Religious Affairs Ministry for the past year.

There are 24 Tevta institutions – 13 in Dera Ghazi Khan and 11 in Rajanpur. The Central Zakat Council changed the policy of giving scholarships to the students of technical institutions, which affected hundreds of students who were earlier benefiting from scholarships.

The head of TEVTA institutions of both districts, Farooq Ahmed Awan, told Dawn that 4,250 had applied for scholarship but the authorities declined their requests.

District Zakat Committee Chairman Akhuwand Sajid Majeed told Dawn council had changed its policy regarding the dispensing of scholarships to Tevta institutions. Now, scholarships will only be awarded to the institutions running under the supervision of the District Zakat Committee.