Oxford University to provide scholarships for Balochistan students
Historic Agreement: Oxford University to offer scholarships to students from Balochistan
In London and Quetta, the University of Oxford and the Balochistan government agreed to offer STEM scholarships to deserving students from the province.
The agreement was made official at a ceremony attended by Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfaraz Bugti and Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai.
These graduate scholarships will be part of the Benazir Scholarship Programme, providing full scholarships to talented students from Balochistan to pursue higher education at one of the world’s top institutions.
The programme aims to give access to quality education and empower Balochistan’s youth, supported by the Oxford Pakistan Programme (OPP) and its backers.
Philanthropist Sarwar Khawaja kickstarted the endowment fund with a donation of 100,000 pounds at the signing ceremony’s outset.
Balochistan’s chief minister, accompanied by his principal secretary Imran Zarkoon Khan, an Oxford alum, initiated the scholarship programme.
At the ceremony, CM Bugti expressed his pride and optimism for Balochistan’s youth, stating, “We are proud to provide our students with the opportunity to study at Oxford University, where Benazir Bhutto and other great leaders have studied.”
He emphasized education as the key to unlocking youth potential and affirmed his government’s commitment to providing them with the best opportunities.
Ms. Yousafzai also praised the initiative, commending the Balochistan government for “taking steps towards promoting education and empowering the youth.”
She emphasized the transformative power of education in creating a brighter future for the region.
The ceremony, attended by around 150 guests, including Senator Anwarul Haq Kakar, Aamir Ibrahim, and University of Cambridge Pro-Vice-Chancellor Prof Kamal Munir, showcased a collective commitment towards empowering Balochistan’s youth through education.