ISLAMABAD: Ehsaas, the federal government’s social welfare programme, has received 122,744 applications for under-graduate scholarships.

The online scholarship portal has now been closed and scrutiny and selection of applicants will be completed in the next three months. It was opened on Sept 30 last year.

Over the last three months, 122,744 undergraduate students, including 50,048 girls and 652 transgenders, applied for the scholarships. The scholarships are granted to students of poor families, who fulfil a certain merit criteria. The need-cum-merit scholarships include tuition fee and a living stipend. All students from low-income families studying in undergraduate programmes in public sector universities were eligible to apply. Out of the total, Ehsaas will award 50,000 new scholarships to deserving students. In line with the under-graduate scholarship policy of Ehsaas, 50 per cent of scholarships will go to girls.

“With the closure of the portal, scrutiny of applications has just begun, and it is envisaged that the final selection process will be completed within the next quarter with all 135 public sector universities,” said Dr Sania Nishtar, the head of Ehsaas programme.

Dr Nishtar also urged Higher Education Commission (HEC) and all public sector universities to expedite the scrutiny and selection process with full transparency.

In the last two years, 142,000 Ehsaas undergraduate scholarships have been awarded. As part of the Ehsaas framework, 200,000 undergraduate scholarships will be awarded in the next four years.

Published in Dawn, January 6th, 2022

Opinion

Editorial

Judiciary’s SOS
Updated 28 Mar, 2024

Judiciary’s SOS

The ball is now in CJP Isa’s court, and he will feel pressure to take action.
Data protection
28 Mar, 2024

Data protection

WHAT do we want? Data protection laws. When do we want them? Immediately. Without delay, if we are to prevent ...
Selling humans
28 Mar, 2024

Selling humans

HUMAN traders feed off economic distress; they peddle promises of a better life to the impoverished who, mired in...
New terror wave
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

New terror wave

The time has come for decisive government action against militancy.
Development costs
27 Mar, 2024

Development costs

A HEFTY escalation of 30pc in the cost of ongoing federal development schemes is one of the many decisions where the...
Aitchison controversy
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

Aitchison controversy

It is hoped that higher authorities realise that politics and nepotism have no place in schools.