PESHAWAR: Chief Minister Ali Amin Khan Gandapur has termed education sector as top priority of the provincial government and said that all possible steps will be taken to improve the sector in the province.

He said this after distributing scholarship certificates among 65 deserving and talented students for graduate and undergraduate programmes at a ceremony held under CM Education Endowment Fund (CMEEF) here on Wednesday, said an official statement.

Mr Gandapur said that government was proud of the talented and hardworking youth. He added that government would go all out to enable the talented students to stand on their own feet.

He announced to increase the seed amount of endowment fund from Rs940 million to Rs2 billion to award more scholarships as well as support orphan students in the province.

He also announced to allocate funds in the upcoming provincial budget for supporting the talented students, who were interested in studying abroad, but were unable to afford it due to financial constraints.

“Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf government has envisaged a system that is based on merit and transparency, on which we have never compromised or will do in the future,” said Mr Gandapur. He advised students to work hard and stick to their goals and government would extend its all-out support to them.

CMEEF was established in 2014 with seed money of Rs940 million, under which a total of 444 scholarships worth Rs546.47 million have been awarded till date.

Provincial Minister for Higher Education Meena Khan Afridi, MNA Shahid Khan Khattak, officials of higher education and other departments also attended the ceremony.

Published in Dawn, May 23rd, 2024