Govt to provide relief to students from flood-hit regions

ISLAMABAD: The federal government has decided to give a major relief to the university students in flood-affected areas including fee waivers and scholarships, Education Minister Rana Tanveer Hussain said Wednesday, 31 August.

The decision comes following a meeting with the chairman Higher Education Commission and other officials of the ministry for devising a strategy to give an urgent response to the devastation caused by floods in Pakistan.

Under the relief package, the government would defer current/due university fee payments, devise a mechanism/possibility for a fee waiver and announce a special scholarship program (undergraduate and graduation) for students from flood-affected areas.

In a series of tweets, the minister mentioned that he held a meeting with the Higher Education Commission (HEC) chairperson, wherein it was decided that current or due university fee payments of students in the flood-hit regions will be deferred.

He maintained that a mechanism of a fee waiver will be devised and a Special Scholarship Programme will be introduced for undergrad and graduate students in the flood-affected areas of Pakistan.

Held meeting with Chair HEC & decided following for students from flood affected areas:
1. Defer current/due university fee payments.
2. Devise mechanism/possibility for fee waiver.
3. Special Scholarship program (UG&Grad) for students from flood affectd areas.#FloodsInPakistan https://t.co/WAPeiliKge pic.twitter.com/PS8X2nZ9o8

— Rana Tanveer Hussain (@RTanveerPMLN) August 31, 2022

Chaired meeting of all HoDs/VCs attached with my ministry and Chairman HEC for devising strategy to give urgent response to devastation caused by #FloodsInPakistan. Doing fund raising, providing food & tents, setting up med camps and transitional schools is our top priority. pic.twitter.com/8iLWPAR28L

— Rana Tanveer Hussain (@RTanveerPMLN) August 31, 2022

According to Hussain, the meeting compromised of heads of departments and vice chancellors attached to the Ministry of Education.

He furthered that: “Doing fundraising, providing food & tents, setting up med[ical] camps and transitional schools is our top priority.”

Chaired meeting of all HoDs/VCs attached with my ministry and Chairman HEC for devising strategy to give urgent response to devastation caused by #FloodsInPakistan. Doing fund raising, providing food & tents, setting up med camps and transitional schools is our top priority. pic.twitter.com/8iLWPAR28L

— Rana Tanveer Hussain (@RTanveerPMLN) August 31, 2022

“Our Government under the able leadership of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is fully committed to providing maximum relief to our people suffering from flood calamity,” he added.
He said that the government stands “firm with our people and will do whatever it takes for rehabilitation”.

Our Government under the able leadership of Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif @CMShehbaz is fully committed to provide maximum relief to our people suffering from flood calamity. In these pressing times we stand firm with our people and will do whatever it takes for rehabilitation. https://t.co/VksU86wgYu

— Rana Tanveer Hussain (@RTanveerPMLN) August 31, 2022

Around 200 school buildings have been damaged by the recent floods that disrupted educational activities in several areas of South Punjab alone.

Sources in the provincial school education department had told  that the floods have destroyed or damaged schools in Jampur, Taunsa, Dera Ghazi Khan, Rajanpur, Fazalpur and several other areas of the region.

Whereas at least 50 per cent of government-run schools in Sindh were unable to operate from August 29.

A total of 4,915 schools in all 30 districts of the province, including in the port city, have been occupied by the internally displaced persons affected by the floods.

Read more: How to help Pakistanis affected by the flood