MUZAFFARABAD (Kashmir English): Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has announced 500 scholarships for talented and deserving students in Azad Jammu and Kashmir under a special initiative of the Pakistan Education Endowment Fund (PEEF), aimed at expanding access to higher education.
The scholarships will be awarded on merit to students pursuing education at different levels, from intermediate to PhD, helping financially disadvantaged students continue their academic journeys.
In this connection, PEEF officials organised an awareness session at the District Elementary College in Kotli to inform students about the scholarship programme, available educational opportunities and career planning.
PEEF Chief Executive Officer Syeda Hajra Sohail, along with officials Atta-ur-Rehman and Ramsha, briefed participants on the initiative and guided students in selecting suitable academic and professional fields.
The session was attended by Kotli District Education Officer Syed Jamshed Bukhari, teachers and a large number of students.
Speaking at the event, PEEF officials said the programme was designed to support talented youth in Azad Kashmir by reducing financial barriers to higher education. They added that the fund also provides academic and professional guidance to help students make informed decisions about their futures.
District Education Officer Syed Jamshed Bukhari appreciated the initiative, describing the 500 scholarships as a valuable opportunity for students across the region. He stressed that teachers and educational institutions should actively inform students about available scholarships so that more deserving candidates could benefit.
The speakers also encouraged students to choose academic fields according to their interests, abilities and employment opportunities rather than simply following conventional career choices.
Career prospects in tourism and hotel management, health sciences, arts and culture, meteorology, information technology and engineering were discussed during the session. Speakers highlighted the growing importance of practical and professional skills alongside formal education.
Students also shared their career ambitions, expressing interest in fields such as medicine, business and teaching. The session included discussions on career planning and the difference between a job and a long-term profession.
The speakers expressed hope that the scholarship initiative would open new avenues of higher education for Azad Kashmir’s youth and help them contribute to the country’s development.
