ISLAMABAD, June 20: The Higher Education Commission (HEC) has decided to award 6,000 scholarships to students from different parts of the country during the next three years.

It was decided during a meeting presided over by Dr Nasser Ali Khan, Member Higher Education Commission at the HEC headquarter.

These scholarships would be awarded to talented but financially strapped students so as to ensure greater equity in enrollment at different public sector higher education institutions (HEIs).

According to spokesman, the need-based scholarships are aimed at providing opportunities to under privileged students, possessing academic merit, but unable to finance their education, to have access to higher education.

Under this new initiative, special emphasis is given to the students belonging to Balochistan, FATA, interior Sindh and Southern Punjab. The meeting was also informed that so far 1,000 scholarships have been awarded.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Nasser said the HEC was committed to providing equitable access to higher education especially to marginalized segments of the society.

The award of need-based scholarships will greatly help in this regard.