Scholarship initiative for coastal communities

Islamabad:Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs, Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry has announced the launch of Maritime Educational Endowment Fund (MEEF) to provide scholarships to deserving and talented children of coastal communities.

In a statement here, the Minister stated that the MEEF aims at promoting inclusive development by enabling access to quality education for youth from over 70 coastal and fishing communities, particularly in the provinces of Sindh and Balochistan. This initiative will help cultivate a skilled maritime workforce essential for the country’s future, he noted.

He said the creation of the fund is based on recommendations of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Maritime Affairs, reflecting the government’s broader commitment to education-driven empowerment in coastal regions.

The Maritime said that by investing in coastal youth today, we are laying the foundation for a resilient and prosperous maritime sector tomorrow. To finance the MEEF, the Ministry will restructure Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) contributions from organisations operating under its jurisdiction. This redirection of CSR resources aims to create a centralised and sustainable funding mechanism to support long-term educational opportunities.

The Minister also announced the formation of a dedicated oversight committee, responsible for ensuring transparency, equitable scholarship distribution and strong monitoring and evaluation frameworks.

In its initial phase, the MEEF will target students of coastal regions, with plans to expand nationally, enabling more students across the country to benefit from the initiative The MEEF is more than just a scholarship programme. Rather, it is a strategic investment in the future of Pakistan’s maritime sector, he said, symbolising our enduring commitment to ensuring that no capable student is left behind due to economic hardship.