THE Undergraduate Scholarship Pro- gramme of the country’s Higher Education Commission (HEC) for Balochistan and erstwhile federally administered tribal areas (Fata) was initiated to facilitate deserving students by providing access to quality education at a tuition cost of up to Rs200,000 including hostel charges.

Similarly, it includes Rs12,000 as monthly allowance, Rs12,000 per year as book allowance, and Rs10,000 per year as travel allowance. The scholarship aims at eliminating financial obstacles, fostering educational opportunities, enhancing employment opportunities, and ensuring educational equity within the region. Sadly, these worthy goals continue to be thwarted by the HEC’s continued failure to release scholarship funds.

I am one of the successful scholars of the Batch-IV (2025) studying currently in the fourth semester at a university in Islamabad. I still have not got my scholar-ship funds for the third semester, and, thus, I am unable to register myself for the next semester.

To enquire about this issue, I approached the university administration, and was told that the university does not offer fee relaxation to students on HEC scholarships because they are always late and uncertain. The official suggested that I pay the fee from my own pocket to meet the deadline. If I could do that, why at all would I have opted for a scholarship?

Scholarships should help students pay for their education, not put a strain on them. The ongoing delays are affecting academic progress and jeopardising the future of deserving students.

The HEC needs to make the scholarship funds available in time, and ensure an effective coordination mechanism with the universities so the students may not have to suffer, and they can focus on education.

Imran Zaib
Turbat

Published in Dawn, September 23rd, 2026