LAHORE : The Alkhidmat Foundation held its annual convention for the Academic Scholarship Programme at its central office.
The event was attended by prominent figures including Secretary General and Chairman of Alkhidmat Education Programme Syed Waqas Jafri, Central Vice Presidents Ihsanullah Waqas, Dr Mushtaq Ahmad Mangat, Regional President of Alkhidmat Lahore Engineer Ahmad Hamad Rasheed, National Director of Education Dr Ahmad Jibran, Head of the Physiotherapy Department at CMH Lahore Dr Qudsia Shameem as well as various Heads of Departments from universities, Alkhidmat scholars, professors, and students from diverse fields.
The programme manager, Ali Arsalan, facilitated the event. Scholarships were awarded to top-performing students, and new scholarship holders received their certificates.
The convention concluded with an oath taken by the participating students to contribute to their education and the country's development.
In his address, Syed Waqas Jafri emphasised that access to education is a fundamental right for every individual.
Unfortunately, over 26 million children in Pakistan are deprived of schooling.
Many students are forced to abandon their education due to a lack of resources, especially in higher education. Programmes like the Alkhidmat Academic Scholarship (AAS) offer hope to deserving yet talented students, he said.
He noted that the scholarship initiative provides financial assistance to deserving students without discrimination based on colour, race, religion, or political affiliation. The selection process is merit-based, focusing on students facing financial hardships, enabling them to pursue higher education. Currently, the programme supports 1,174 deserving students from all four provinces of Pakistan, including Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan. So far, 5,411 talented students have received scholarships totaling Rs536.1 million, leading to significant achievements: 651 doctors, 715 engineers, 1,194 BS Honors/Master's graduates, 260 Associate Engineers, 530 graduates, and 2,061 intermediate students have successfully completed their education through this initiative, he said.
Dr Mushtaq Ahmad Mangat remarked that understanding problems must quickly transition to awareness, enabling individuals to utilise their resources and skills for the benefit of those in need.
He highlighted that the volunteers of Alkhidmat play a crucial role in the completion of multi-billion rupee projects.
Vice President Ihsanullah Waqas stressed the importance of mutual support among individuals, ensuring help is available when needed. National Director of Education Dr Ahmad Jibran stated that the scholarship programme not only provides financial support but also monitors student performance throughout the year, offering guidance as needed.
Additionally, career counseling seminars are organised to assist scholars in making informed career choices, he added.
Dr Qudsia Shameem from CMH Lahore expressed gratitude, stating that Alkhidmat Foundation has been a guiding force in her life, contributing to her success and 31 gold medals.