The establishment of the Punjab Educational Endowment Fund (PEEF) is undoubtedly one of the Punjab government’s flagship initiatives in the field of education and distribution of scholarships to talented and resource-constrained students has formally started now under this project.
Nonetheless, the government seems to have ignored the plight of students who were promised scholarships under the Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB) by the previous PML-Q government in 2007.
Through this column in December 2008, The News had highlighted the issue of PITB scholarships. Despite the passage of almost six months, the ‘victims’ have been running from pillar to post but to no avail.
In April 2007, the Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB) had announced the scholarships (Phase-II) for BS, MS and MPhil/PhD students in Computer Science, Information Technology, IT Management, Telecom Engineering, Electrical/Computer/Software Engineering, Mathematics and MIS/Management/ Information Systems for talented but needy students having Punjab domicile.
These scholarships were meant to cover tuition fee. Following selection of successful candidates, scholarship deed was signed by students and their parents/guardians. However, since then the selected students have been waiting for funds from the government to pay for their studies.
Talking to The News, students said they had pinned high hopes on Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif as he was known for pursuing education-friendly policies. They said the government’s lack of interest in addressing the grievances of students ‘suffering’ due to the previous regime’s policies had disappointed them.
M Waseem Sarwar, a final year student of Electrical Engineering at the University of Engineering and Technology (UET) Lahore, said he had submitted an application to the Chief Minister’s complaint cell regarding PITB scholarships but got nothing except assurances. “Scholarships through the PEEF is certainly a commendable effort,” he said adding “the government must complete pending projects first”. “We know the major problem delay in execution of PITB scholarships is that the programme was launched by the previous government but rulers must realize that students do not belong to any party and they should not suffer due to their conflicts,” Waseem added.
He said his university even fined him over Rs 4,000 for late fee submission which he did not pay as he was waiting for the scholarship to be released.
Waseem said if the government lacked funds, then it must at least award scholarship to students who have over 80 percent record in all examinations.
Usman Khalid, another PITB scholarship victim said he was tired of red tape. He said he had not only visited CM open court, twice, but also chief secretary complain cell, PITB offices and Higher Education Department on various occasions but to no avail.
Referring to a recent news item he said: “One wonders what is preventing the government from awarding scholarships to students at a time when the PITB has failed to use over 70 percent of its budgetary allocation for fiscal year 2008-09.”
Students have urged Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif to intervene and provide them justice.
Forman Christian College (a chartered university) has held its first honour’s convocation and commencement 2009 on June 13 and 14 evenings respectively.
Academic degrees were awarded to 290 successful graduates of Bachelor of Arts (Conventional and Honours), Bachelor of Science (Conventional and Honours), Bachelor of Science Business (Honours), Master of Arts (Conventional) and Master of Science (Conventional).
Recipients of medals included Prof M S Bhatti Medal awarded to Kashifa Khalid for securing highest CGPA among the university candidates in MA English, Sir Mian M Shafi Medal to Khalid Khan Jogezai in MA Political Science, Sir Sheikh Abdul Qadir Medal to Saima Rafique in MA Urdu, Swami Ram Teerath Medal to Saba Ayub in MSc Mathematics, Prof E J Sinclair Medal to Bilkis Hussain for the degree of Bachelor of Arts (Honours), and Khan Bahadur Muhammad Sanaullah Medal to Muhammad Asad for securing highest CGPA for the degree of Bachelor of Science (Honours).
Awards were distributed by Rector Dr Peter H Armacost and Vice Rector Dr Cusrow J Dubash while Registrar Dr Hamid Saeed acted as Director of commencement.
Dr Peter presided over the functions. In his address, Dr Armacost advised graduating students to play a constructive role in society as Pakistan faced many challenges.
“Apply core values and contribute to Pakistan. Use time, adopt self learning, be concerned about needs of others, dedicate truth, and by love, serve one another,” said Dr Armacost.
Earlier, in honours convocation academic award, core value/service award, department and faculty outstanding student, and teacher awards were distributed among successful candidates.
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Wednesday,August 19, 2009 at 3:50 pm
i want to ask that i am a student of superior science higher secondary school distt.khanewal and i got a letter from peef for scholarship.so i gave them all informations which they inquired. but they did not send my scholarship till today.