The Overseas Pakistanis Foundation has announced a new scholarship program for children and spouses of overseas Pakistanis, to help families pay their education bills amidst the rising cost of education and empower children to undertake higher education in Pakistan.
The initiative will be able to offer financial support to the deserving students by means of an Overseas Pakistanis Education Fund (OPEF) so that they can complete their studies without facing big hurdles.
Financial Support Through OPEF
Officials said that the Overseas Pakistanis Education Fund (OPEF) will be the primary source of funding for the scholarship program.
The fund is designed to assist:
- Children of overseas Pakistanis
- Spouses of overseas Pakistanis
- Families connected to registered OPF members
The scholarships will support students enrolled in:
- Intermediate programs
- Undergraduate degrees
- Postgraduate studies
The move is aimed to acknowledge the contribution of overseas Pakistanis to the economy and to promote their children’s education, authorities said.
Multiple Academic Fields Included
A major aspect of the program of scholarships is the wide range of academic subjects covered.
Eligible candidates: student studying in professional or general education. These include:
- MBBS
- BDS
- Engineering
- Master’s degree programs
- Other higher education fields
The inclusive nature is designed to provide equal opportunities to students from various educational backgrounds, officials said.
Eligibility Criteria for Applicants
The scholarships come with a set of academic criteria that ensures that the scholarship dollars go to worthy students.
Applicants must:
- Secure at least 60% marks or a minimum CGPA of 2.5 in their latest examinations
- Have a parent or spouse registered with the Overseas Pakistanis Foundation
- Possess overseas employment verification through the Protector of Emigrants process
The suspects have all undergone these conditions to ensure that the selection is transparent and fair, authorities said.
Income Limit for Scholarship Applicants
The scholarship also has an income threshold with an emphasis placed on financially deserving families.
Applicants must belong to families earning less than:
- Rs. 200,000 per month
Also, students currently on a scholarship will not be eligible for this scholarship in the same academic year.
This condition is believed to be a way to fairly spread the funds among more deserving students, officials said.
Special Support for Families of Deceased Overseas Pakistanis
Special conditions also apply to the families of the deceased Pakistani overseas citizens to avail scholarships.
Financial assistance is provided under the program for children of overseas Pakistanis who died after passing away.
The transfer has been said to be a crucial move to help the vulnerable families and to ensure that the students who are financially challenged be able to continue their education.
Promoting Education and Equal Opportunities
The Overseas Pakistanis Foundation added that the scholarship program is part of the overall initiative to enhance the educational opportunities for the overseas Pakistanis and their families.
Education officials believe such initiatives can help:
- Reduce financial barriers
- Encourage higher education
- Support talented students
- Promote equal educational access
Investment in education is still vital for long-term development and improvement of the workforce, authorities added.
The new scholarship scheme for the children of overseas Pakistanis will be able to offer significant financial support to deserving students from all over Pakistan.
The program is designed to support students at various academic stages and in different career paths, ensuring that they can pursue their studies without undue financial strain. The program offers support for a variety of academic levels and career paths, with the goal of helping students to continue their education without the added stress of financial burden.
The programme aims to implement fair and equitable educational opportunities through merit and financial need assessment, for families linked to the overseas Pakistanis.
