HYDERABAD, Aug 23: An amount of Rs1.734 million was distributed among 17 students, including six girls by the Mehran University of Engineering and Technology under Students Financial Aid Office (SFAO) established by the Higher Education Commission Islamabad.

Those belonging to 2006 and 2007 batches received Rs102,000 each at a simple ceremony held at the campus, on Thursday.

Vice Chancellor Dr A.Q.K. Rajput advised the recipients of scholarship to spend this money on books, research journalists, computer, payment of network fees and other items which were necessary for their education.

He said, the SFAO was established only a year back but scholarships had been awarded to 1,400 deserving candidates.

The focal person SFAO and Dean, Faculty of Electrical, Electronics and Computer Engineering, Dr Mohammad Rafique Abro gave a briefing about the aid office and said the scholarships were given strictly on merit to meritorious and deserving students.

He said it was the endeavour of his office to grant scholarships to the extent of 50 per cent in due course of time. He acknowledged and praised the services of Kashif Usman Dars, Asif Jokhio and deputy focal person, Dr Taha Hussain Ali, who were performing duties at the aid office voluntarily.