ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News – 6th Mar, 2026) In line with the mandate of expanding access to quality higher education, the Higher Education Commission (HEC) has decided to Pakistan It is awarding a large number of scholarships to students of Balochistan and former Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) students under the project titled “Providing Higher Educational Opportunities to Students of Balochistan and FATA”, through a meritorious process.
to dateHEC has awarded 8,343 scholarships to talented students in underprivileged areas of Balochistan and former Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), according to a press release issued on Friday.
As many as 4,583 students from Balochistan and erstwhile Federally Administered Tribal Areas have completed their studies and are now contributing to the socio-economic development of Pakistan. The rest are scholars who are currently working blackboard They will soon complete their studies and play an active role in the social and economic development of the country.
The selection of 1000 college scholarships for the 2025-26 session is in its final stage and will be completed soon. Furthermore, for the 2026-27 academic session, another 1,000 university scholarships will be awarded.
The “Providing Higher Education Opportunities to Students of Balochistan and Federally Administered Tribal Areas (President’s Directives)” project, approved in October 2007, was launched to provide 2,000 scholarships to talented and deserving students from Balochistan and Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA). Of these scholarships, 1,300 scholarships were allocated for university studies (but Four/five-year) programs and 700 for postgraduate studies (two-year Master’s).
The project was successfully completed and PC-IV was duly submitted.
The initiative has played an important role in expanding access to the top education For young people in these deprived areas, and to contribute to the development of human resources and social and economic advancement in Balochistan and the tribal areas under the former federal administration.
The second phase of the project, approved by CDWP in October 2015, aims to provide 3,500 scholarships (2,500 undergraduate scholarships and 1,000 postgraduate scholarships).
Since 3,341 (2,517 undergraduates and 824 postgraduates) have benefited from this phase, 2,581 people (1,957 undergraduates and 624 postgraduates) have successfully completed their studies and are contributing to the overall economic and social growth of the country. Furthermore, there are 760 scholars (570 undergraduates and 190 graduate students) currently enrolled who are expected to graduate by June 2027.
The third phase of the project, approved in January 2023, aims to provide 5,000 university scholarships to talented and motivated young people from these underserved areas. To date, 3,000 scholarships have been awarded, and 2,531 active scholars are currently pursuing their studies. An additional 1,000 scholarships are being awarded (fourth batch). Furthermore, an additional 1,000 scholarships will be announced for the 2026-27 academic session.
This initiative reaffirms the commitment of the Government of Pakistan through the HEC to empower the meritorious and underprivileged youth of Balochistan and the former Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA).