LAHORE: While presiding over a special meeting of the Higher Education Department, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz instructed the relevant authorities to initiate the “Punjab Honahar Merit Scholarship Programme” and a laptop program for students in the province, according to a statement released on Saturday.
Following the directive to expand the number of deserving scholarships from 4,000 to 25,000, she declared: “The scholarship will cover 100% of the tuition for students pursuing a bachelor’s degree at government universities and eight carefully chosen private universities.”
Speaking at the special meeting, she also urged the business sector to be assisted in promoting higher education, noting that “the participation of the private sector will provide opportunities for higher education to the youth of remote areas.”
She called for the building of new universities in Jhelum, Vehari, and Bahawalnagar and examined recommendations for the formation of universities under public-private partnerships. She also committed to support the private sector in this respect.
In addition, Punjab CM made the decision to establish innovative, market-driven programs in institutions with smaller student bodies as well as a reliable online portal system for the exclusive nomination of divisional directors and principals based only on qualifications.
She was also given a plan to supply government colleges with new buses.
In addition, the chief minister declared that “it is advisable to constitute a high-level ministerial committee to review affairs of education boards” and chose to create the Punjab Board Coordination Commission.
