KARACHI: Five students from Sindh have been selected for fully funded postgraduate scholarships at the University of Oxford under the Bhutto STEM Scholarship initiative, launched through collaboration between the Sindh government and the Oxford Pakistan Programme.
The selected scholars come from Korangi, Shaheed Benazirabad and Khairpur and will pursue postgraduate studies in fields including economics, clinical embryology, zero-carbon energy research and engineering science.
Bhutto STEM Scholarship initiative
The scholarship programme was highlighted at a recognition ceremony chaired by Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah. According to the Sindh Chief Minister’s spokesperson, the provincial government is providing scholarships named after former prime ministers Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto.
Three of the five selected students are from Korangi, while one each is from Shaheed Benazirabad and Khairpur.
Speaking at the ceremony, Murad Ali Shah congratulated the students and said the initiative aims to provide talented young people from Sindh with access to leading international universities. He said academic merit should not be limited by geographical or financial circumstances.
The chief minister said the Bhutto STEM Scholarship initiative was established with support from the Oxford Pakistan Programme through the efforts of PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari. He described the scholarships as an effort to expand access to international education for talented students from the province.
Scholarships cover full financial support
According to Oxford University representative Dr Jamal Pirzada, the Oxford programme had been initiated around six years ago but could not achieve its intended progress because of funding limitations. He said the Sindh government’s support had helped the scholarship initiative move forward.
Provincial Education Minister Syed Sardar Shah also congratulated the selected students, saying the programme was intended to give young people opportunities based on merit regardless of their financial circumstances.
The scholarship initiative is part of the Sindh government’s efforts to support higher education and provide students with opportunities to study at internationally recognised institutions.