Maryam okays 25,000 scholarships, new varsities

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has approved the ‘Punjab Honahar Merit Scholarship Programme’ and directed the authorities concerned to increase the number of meritorious scholarships from 4,000 to 25,000.

The CM passed these directions while chairing a meeting here on Saturday. “Facilitate the private sector for the promotion of higher education,” she said and added that “private sector participation will provide opportunities for higher education to youth of remote areas.”

The chief minister said, “Hundred percent fees of students doing BS from the government and eight selected private universities will be paid from the scholarship.” She directed the immediate establishment of new universities in Jhelum, Vehari, and Bahawalnagar. She reviewed recommendations for the establishment of universities under a public-private partnership and agreed to facilitate the private sector in this regard. She also directed the immediate launch of a laptop scheme.

The chief minister decided to introduce new market-driven disciplines in colleges with fewer students. She also directed the introduction of a foolproof system for the appointment of divisional directors and principals purely on merit through an online portal system.

A plan for providing new buses to government colleges was also presented to the chief minister.

Maryam Nawaz said it was advisable to constitute a high-level ministerial committee to review the affairs of private universities. She decided to establish the Punjab Board Coordination Commission for reforms in the affairs of education boards. The chief minister expressed pleasure over the successful programme of MDCAT and E CAT free classes in 90 colleges of Punjab. “The scope of free MDCAT and E CAT classes in colleges should be gradually expanded for students from remote areas,” she said.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz congratulated Masoud Pezeshkian, the newly-elected President of the Islamic Republic of Iran. She expressed her best wishes for his success. “The newly-elected Iranian president will bring more warmth to Pak-Iran relations.”

She added, “It is expected that President Masoud Pezeshkian will play an active role in taking the social and economic relations of Pakistan and Iran to new heights.”