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Fees scheme loopholes

2015-07-01
THE Prime Minister`s Fees Reimbursement Scheme was announced in the budget speech for financial year 2013-14 by the finance minister for less-developed regions of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, Interior Sindh and Punjab.

According to the scheme, students belonging to less-developed areas who are pursuing Masters/M Philosophy or doctorate degrees in HEC-identified regional universities would be entitled to full fees reimbursement upon completion of their degree.

On the whole, the scheme is beneficial but there exists a serious drawback as there is a restriction by the HEC -that fees would be reimbursed only when the degree is completed from the selected university for the particular region.

The HEC selected COMSATS Attock as a regional university for District Attock.

Now as a Physics graduate, I want to do MS in Physics, but COMSATS Attock only offers MS programme in IT, Management and Mathematics. So despite belonging to a less-developed region, it seems that I would not be able to benefit from the scheme.

It is my request to the ministry of education and the HEC to select only those universities for less-developed areas which have a full range of degree programmes.

M. Farhan Nawaz Attock