LAHORE PUNJAB Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has said that the target of students getting scholarships under the Punjab Educational Endowment Fund (PEEF) should be enhanced from 25,000 to 50,000 this year. He further said that scholarships of Rs 1.25 billion would be given this year and if additional resources were needed to provide scholarships to 50,000 students, they would also be made available. He was addressing the 6th meeting of the PEEF Board of Directors here on Thursday. Shahbaz said that the PEEF had ensured the completion of educational activities of the talented students facing financial constraints and such students were getting education not only in the prestigious institutions of the country but also abroad. He said the establishment of the fund was a revolutionary step of the Punjab government in the 63 years’ history of the country, through which, talented students facing financial problems were getting their education. He said scholarships had been given to 17,000 students out of the fund so far. The chief minister said the youth was the guarantee of the bright future of the country and all possible resources would be provided for equipping them with modern knowledge. He said the PEEF was the largest endowment fund of the country through which scholarships were not only being given to the talented students of the four provinces but also to the male and female students of Gilgit-Baltistan, Fata and Azad Kashmir. He also directed the PEEF management that this year, 20 students should be sent to prestigious universities of the world for getting education. PEEF Vice-Chairman Dr Amjad Saqib briefed the meeting on the performance and activities of the PEEF. He disclosed that Youth Development Centre had been set up in Murree and a programme had been evolved for imparting training to 1,028 talented students in various skills up to October 2011. The meeting also offered Fateha for the director of the Board, late A.Z.K. Sher Dil. MNA Anosha Rehman, MPA Shahjan, secretary finance, higher education and others were also present.
