"Higher Education Opportunities"

Chairman HEC Writes VCs to increase quota for FATA Students

Friday, 23 August 2013

Islamabad: In compliance of Prime Minister Directive, the Chairperson Higher Education Commission (HEC) Dr. Javaid Laghari has written letter to the Vice chancellors for increase of admission quota of students belonging to FATA from one to two percent. The vice chancellors have been requested to implement the directives in letter and spirit.

Federally Administered Tribal Areas of Pakistan are passing through extremely challenging circumstances. There is a general belief that the security situation is also the result of paucity of opportunities. The disgruntled youth is falling prey to the nefarious designs of the extremist elements. There is a death of quality educational institutions in FATA for the youth. The socioeconomic indicators are not even comparable to the most backward areas of the Provinces. The situation warrants urgent action from all concerned.  In view of the above the Prime Minister of Pakistan has issued directions that Provinces shall make arrangements to reserve at least 2% of the seats in Medical, Engineering and other Professional Institutions and Universities, for students hailing from the FATA areas. This would enable the mainstreaming of FATA students, who could return to serve in some of the most backward areas and also perform as agents of change and catalysts of modernization.

In addition, The Higher Education Commission HEC has also decided to award foreign PhD scholarships to working journalists of FATA   under the project ‘Provision of Higher Education Opportunities for the Students of Balochistan and FATA’. These scholarships will be for PhD studies at leading HEC identified Universities in USA, UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand for spring 2014 session. The working journalist with FATA domicile and masters in Journalism or equivalent would be eligible to apply for the scheme.