The Higher Education Commission (HEC) has launched an online portal for realizing undergraduate scholarships with a budget of Rs 24 billion.
In a meeting held in Islamabad, HEC officials gave a briefing on Ehsas Undergraduate Scholarship Program.
HEC officials told the chairman of the committee that students from 125 public sector universities could apply for the scholarship program.
According to HEC officials, students with a family income of less than Rs 45,000 can apply for the Ehsas Scholarship Program.
It was informed in the briefing that in the academic year 2019-20, 50,762 students were given scholarships worth Rs 4.827 billion.
HEC officials added that the Ehsas Undergraduate Scholarship Program will provide scholarships to 50,000 students from low-income families each year.
It was informed in the briefing that 200,000 students will benefit from this 4-year program. The scholarship includes 100% tuition fee and a monthly stipend of Rs 4,000.
HEC officials said the Rs. 24 billion budget program has been extended to public sector universities in all four provinces, Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan.
The chairman of the committee told HEC officials that the issue of online application is also a difficult one, adding that Wi-Fi and internet facilities are not available in remote backward areas.
The chairman of the committee suggested to the HEC officials that advertisements be placed in local newspapers to include students from remote backward areas in the program.
