PM launches Pakistan Education Endowment Fund worth PKR 14 Billion

Pakistan Education Endowment Fund has been launched by the Prime Minister of Pakistan Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif worth fourteen billion rupees and reforms in National Curriculum in Islamabad today (Wednesday, July 12).

While addressing the inaugural ceremony, PM Shehbaz Sharif said that a budget of three billion rupees has been earmarked this fiscal year for the endowment fund to equip the youth with education and make them builders of the nation. He also clarified that this budget will not go into the endowment fund this year but directly to the youth in the form of scholarships.  I want to see the allocation of the Pakistan Education Endowment Fund increase to one hundred and forty billion rupees in the next ten years saying it is only through the promotion of education, the country can be taken forward on the path of progress and development.

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The Premier recalled that Punjab Education Endowment Fund was established back in 2008 which provided scholarships to four hundred and fifty thousand students. He termed the promotion of education as a sacred duty and said special focus should be given to the areas which lag behind in development. We have to focus on education that is meaningful and has relevance with the modern-day requirements to better compete with the world.

The Prime Minister further stated that the tenure of the present government is ending on the 14th of next month and then the Election Commission of Pakistan has to announce the election date. He said whosoever forms the next government after the elections, top priority should be given to education to make this nation great. He was appreciative of the financial assistance extended by China, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE during difficult times. He however said we have to do introspection to put the country in the right direction.

Speaking on the occasion, the Federal Minister for Education Rana Tanveer Hussain said that scholarships under the endowment fund will be given in various disciplines including nursing, engineering, and social sciences. He said that the incorporation of the Constitution of Pakistan in the syllabus is an important milestone saying this will promote understanding amongst the youth about their rights and responsibilities.