THIS is apropos Rukhsana Shah’s article ‘Revive institutions’. In November 2015 the Higher Education Commission (HEC) announced indigenous PhD scholarships where 2pc quota was reserved for physically-challenged persons.

No relaxation or exemption in the eligibility criterion has been granted in the aforesaid scholarship for the physically-challenged applicants. We all know that most of the physically-challenged persons face difficulties in their learning process which result in lower achievements as compared to normal persons.

I, therefore, request the authorities concerned to consider the difficulties faced by the physically-challenged persons and grant relaxation to them in the eligibility criterion, particularly in age factor in higher education and scholarship schemes to enable these persons to advance in society.

Saiful Islam

Adamzai, Nowshera

Published in Dawn, January 18th, 2016