Pakistani religious affairs ministry announces scholarships for non-Muslim students

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Religious Affairs Ministry on Thursday announced scholarships for non-Muslim students, aiming to enhance educational opportunities and support for minority communities who form less than five people of the population of the South Asian nation.
The government promotes educational inclusivity for non-Muslim students through various scholarship programs such as the Prime Minister’s Minority Scholarship Scheme and the Pakistan Minorities Scholarship Program. These initiatives provide financial assistance including tuition fees, stipends, book allowances, and travel grants to eligible students from minority communities.
The scholarships are awarded based on academic merit, financial need, and citizenship, enabling many students each year to pursue higher education.
“The Ministry of Religious Affairs has announced educational scholarships for non-Muslim students,” a spokesman for the religious affairs ministry said on Thursday. “Applications for this financial year’s scholarships will be submitted online through the ministry’s website.”
Approximately $210,000 (Rs60 million) have been allocated for the scholarships this financial year, he added.
Students will be required to provide an income certificate, educational institution verification and joint bank account details, the spokesman said, adding that only non-Muslim students studying in government institutions who had scored at least 50 percent marks would be eligible for the scholarships.
An advertisement published by the religious affairs ministry highlighted that an eligible candidate’s parent’s income must not exceed $259. Private institute students or students receiving any kind of financial assistance or stipend from any other source would not be eligible for the scholarship. It also advised students to apply within 30 days of the advertisement’s publication.