The government is committed to expanding scholarship opportunities and strengthening support mechanisms to empower the youth. Federal Minister for Poverty Alleviation & Social Safety Syed Imran Ahmad Shah
Pakistan Bait-ul-Mal played a vital role in supporting financially challenged students, enabling them to pursue higher education. Vice Chancellor PMAS-AAUR Prof. Dr. Qamar-uz-Zaman
The Directorate of Financial Assistance & University Advancement, Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi (PMAS-AAUR) organized an interactive session with Pakistan Bait-ul-Mal (PBM) Scholarship Awardees here on Wednesday, January 7, 2026. The Honorable Federal Minister for Poverty Alleviation & Social Safety, Syed Imran Ahmad Shah graced the event as Chief Guest. He was warmly received by the Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Qamar-uz-Zaman, along with deans, directors, faculty members and student representatives. The session aimed to strengthen collaboration between government and academic institutions to enhance scholarship opportunities and social protection initiatives for the youth.
In his welcome address, Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Qamar-uz-Zaman appreciated the vital role of Pakistan Bait-ul-Mal in supporting financially challenged students, enabling them to pursue higher education without interruption. He said that many students come from middle and lower-middle-class backgrounds and face increasing financial challenges. The Pakistan Bait-ul-Mal initiative is a great step to help such deserving students to continue studies and achieve their goals. We are thankful to the Ministry of Poverty Alleviation & Social Safety and Pakistan Bait-ul-Mal for their continued cooperation and support. He also briefed the Honorable Minister about the university’s ongoing academic, research, and community development initiatives, emphasizing PMAS-AAUR’s contribution toward agricultural innovation, sustainability, and rural uplift.
While addressing, the Honorable Chief Guest Federal Minister Syed Imran Ahmad Shah reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring equitable access to education across the country. He stated that the Ministry of Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety, through programs like the Pakistan Bait-ul-Mal Scholarship, is dedicated to removing financial barriers for talented youth. He said that youth are the most valuable asset of our nation, no student should be deprived of education due to financial constraints. The government is committed to expanding scholarship opportunities and strengthening support mechanisms to empower the youth.
He also announced a special initiative for PMAS-Arid Agriculture University, declaring that there would be no limit on scholarship awards for its students. He added that I have directed Pakistan Bait-ul-Mal to entertain every scholarship application received from Arid University so that no deserving student is left behind. The Minister further revealed that the annual scholarship stipend for students has been increased from Rs. 100,000 to Rs. 150,000, reflecting the government’s resolve to enhance educational access and quality.
In his concluding remarks, the Minister highlighted Pakistan’s international cooperation, especially in the security agreement with Saudi Arabia involving the protection of Masjid al-Haram and Masjid an-Nabawi, acknowledging the nation’s commitment to both faith and service. He urged students to remain focused on their studies and professional development, warning against distractions such as misinformation and fake content on social media. He advised that use social media wisely; seek knowledge, not noise.
At the end of the ceremony, scholarship cheques were distributed among deserving students by the Honorable Minister and the Vice Chancellor. The Minister clarified that the scholarship funds were not drawn from Zakat, but rather from a dedicated budget allocation to ensure inclusive support for education.
Read in Urdu: پاکستان بیت المال مستحق طلبہ کی تعلیمی معاونت میں اہم کردار ادا کر رہا ہے۔ وائس چانسلر پروفیسر ڈاکٹر قمرالزمان
