Increased financial assistance, scholarships to GIK students assured

SWABI: The Society for Promotion of Engineering Sciences and Technology in Pakistan (SOPREST) Executive Director Shakeel Durrani on Wednesday stated that the financial assistance and scholarships for the talented and needy students would be increased.

He was presiding over a meeting at the Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute of Engineering Sciences and Technology. The meeting was held to review the preparations for conducting the entry test for Fall 2021 semester next month and discuss the overall academic activities of the institute.

During his visit to GIK Institute, Shakil Durrani, a former bureaucrat and chairman of Wapda, held meetings with the deans, directors and faculty members. Sardar Aminullah Khan, acting rector of the GIK Institute, gave a presentation on the occasion and highlighted the ongoing admission process and advertisement and publicity campaign launched in connection with upcoming admissions. The facilities provided to the students, including financial assistance and scholarships being offered by SOPREST were discussed.

It was decided to review the scheme of the scholarships paid by the institute, other donors and provincial governments and quarters concerned were requested to increase the scholarships to attract and accommodate the needy and talented students.

The recent ranking by the Times Higher Education declaring GIK Institute as the top university in Pakistan in quality education was noted with satisfaction. The participants emphasised the need to keep up the tradition of providing quality education to the students in different disciplines.

Pro-Rector (Academics) apprised Shakeel Durrani about disruption of academic activities in the wake of COVID-19 related restrictions. However, he ensured timely completion of the academic calendar for the year due to the concerted efforts made by the faculty for transformation to online mode during the lockdown.

The Acting Rector briefed the guest about the comprehensive strategy drawn for publicity by utilizing various social media platforms and other modes in order to expand the outreach to maximum number of students during the current admission cycle.

The scholarships provided by the provincial governments were acknowledged and it was decided to request them for increasing the number of scholarships to the talented students. Terming the GIK as the premier educational institution in the country, Shakeel Durrani said SOPREST would consider the request for additional assistance to the talented students.