Federal Minister for Planning, Development & Special Initiatives, Ahsan Iqbal, visited Cambridge University, where he held a productive meeting with Hilary Perott, Representative of the Strategic Partnership Organisation. The discussions focused on fostering collaboration to create new opportunities for Pakistani students at Cambridge and other leading universities in the UK. During the meeting with the team leading partnerships under the Cambridge Trust, Minister Iqbal was apprised of the availability of co-funded PhD scholarships between Pakistan and Cambridge. However, procedural challenges had resulted in these scholarships remaining unutilized. Expressing concern over the issue, Minister Iqbal immediately directed the Chairman of the Higher Education Commission (HEC) to address the procedural bottlenecks and ensure that all available scholarships are awarded to deserving Pakistani students who have secured admission in PhD programs at Cambridge and meet the required criteria. Additionally, he assigned the Member Science and Technology, Planning Commission, to follow up on the matter, emphasizing that no eligible student should be deprived of this opportunity. Minister Iqbal reiterated his vision of enabling every Pakistani student who secures admission to top universities worldwide to receive financial support. Reflecting on his own journey, he shared how he was able to pursue an MBA at the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, through a scholarship, which played a crucial role in shaping his career and achievements. Furthermore, the Minister informed that he has engaged with the heads of all major commercial banks in Pakistan, urging them to develop scholarship programs under their corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives. He emphasized the importance of public-private partnerships in expanding higher education opportunities for talented Pakistani students. This visit underscores the government's commitment to investing in education and ensuring that Pakistani students have access to world-class academic institutions, thereby contributing to the nation’s intellectual and economic growth.
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