Islamabad : President Dr Arif Alvi said on Tuesday that steps were being taken to promote professional and skill-based education in Pakistan which would provide employment to the youth as well as bring socio-economic development.
He made these remarks while talking to a delegation of the Professional Education Foundation (PEF), led by its Chairman Hafeez-ul-Haq who called on him here at the Aiwan-e-Sadr, a press release said.
Talking to the delegation, the president said it was his key priority to facilitate and encourage the differently-abled students to continue their studies and empower them financially.
In order to support and encourage persons with disabilities, he added that the Higher Education Commission had formulated a policy that exempted the students with disabilities from tuition and hostel fees.
The president also underlined the need for increasing the Virtual Component in Education which was cost-effective and easily accessible.
The PEF Chairman briefed the president about the contribution of the Foundation in the promotion of professional education.
He informed that the PEF offered scholarships and interest-free loans to brilliant students, who had obtained admissions in professional colleges/universities on merit but could not afford the fees.
He said 1,700 students had graduated with PEF financial support.
The chairman said that the Foundation had paid the education cost of 1,900 students in 2020-21, who were studying in the medical, engineering and other professional colleges/universities.
The President appreciated the efforts and contribution of PEF, which had been supporting the deserving students to continue their education.
