Amraiz Khan
Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar on Tuesday that the Punjab government is providing 100 per cent scholarships to students of minority communities from matric to Ph.D. level in government institutions.
“Similarly, 2 percent quota is also allocated in higher education institutions along with 5 percent job quota for minorities.” Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar stated while distributing scholarship cheques to minority students at a ceremony held here at CM’s House on Tuesday.
Punjab Minister for Minority Affairs and Human Rights Ijaz Alam, Special Assistant to CM Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan, Parliamentary Secretary for Human Rights and Minority Affairs Mahindar Pal Singh, MPAs – Haroon Imran Gill and Peter Gill, secretaries of Minority Affairs and Information & Culture departments were also present.
The CM said that Rs50 million are allocated for educational scholarship scheme for non-Muslim students and Rs25 million are given through PEEF while the remaining amount is provided through the departments concerned as stipends. The CM stated 50 percent scholarship is earmarked for central Punjab, 35 percent for southern Punjab and share of northern Punjab students is 15 per cent. Non-Muslim students are given scholarships ranging from Rs15,000 to Rs50,000 from matric to higher studies.
The CM said 714 students, including 157 from Lahore, have been given scholarships on merit during the current financial year. This includes 32 students enrolled in professional educational institutions. The CM further said Rs500 million are being spent on the development of localities where non-Muslims are residing and another amount of Rs60 million is provided every year for the festivals of every minority community.
Meanwhile, the Punjab cabinet, which met under the chair of Chief Minister Usman Buzdar fixed Rs200 per maund minimum support price of sugarcane along with the approval of transportation charges and sugarcane development cess. The meeting also decided to constitute a ministerial committee for the procurement of additional imported sugar. This committee will submit recommendations after a review of sugar stock. The meeting stressed the sugarcane growers will be given a full reward of their hard work during the crushing season and legal action will be initiated against those failing in timely payments.
The cabinet allowed the food department to enter into an agreement with PASSCO for the purchase of 63 thousand metric ton imported wheat. The cabinet standing committee for finance and development will take stock of matters relating to the release of a letter of comfort or bridge financing for land requisition for Ravi Urban Development Authority.
Meanwhile, CM Buzdar, ministers, parliamentarians and senior officials attended the na’atia mushaira held under the aegis of information and culture department at CM Office on Tuesday.
Various poets paid their poetic tributes to Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) in different languages. Shujaat Hashmi presented Kalam-e-Iqbal and its English and French translations were also presented.
