A new direction: K-P government announces stipend for unemployed graduates

PESHAWAR: In a first of its kind move, the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) government announced that the youth in the province will be given Rs2,000 per month as an unemployment stipend until they secure employment. Addressing students at the 21st convocation of the Jinnah College for Women (JCW), Peshawar on Saturday, K-P Minister for Higher Education Mushtaq Ahmed Ghani said the government has set aside a fund of Rs500 million for this purpose. Explaining the scheme which will run under the Project Management Unit (PMU) of the Higher Education Archive and Library Department, Ghani told The Express Tribune jobless students who have completed 16 years of education can apply through their concerned universities. “The universities will verify the details of students and the lists compiled by them will be sent to the Higher Education Department,” said Ghani. May 15 has been advertised as the last date to apply and the entire process will be conducted based on merit. “The number of students that can be accommodated this year will be decided later based on the amount allocated so far,” said Ghani. Furthermore, a Complaint Redressal Committee chaired by the special secretary of the Higher Educational Department will also be constituted which will address complaints regarding the scheme. The minister further explained that students with a domicile of K-P and the Federally Administered Tribal Areas will be eligible to apply for the grant. “In order to ensure transparency, the scheme will be carried out in collaboration with degree awarding public sector institutions and registered madrassahs,” said Ghani. Convocation Around 350 graduates of the 2010-11, 2011-12 and 2012-13 sessions were awarded degrees BA, BSc and BS Economic degrees at the 21st convocation of JCW held on the eve of its golden jubilee year. Gold medals were given to Hafiza Saadia Rehman for securing first position in BSc for the 2011 session, Sana Shah for BA 2011 session, Sidra Saeed Qazi for obtaining first position in BSc in 2012 session, Neelam Shahi Mulk for clinching the top position in BA 2013 session and Aisha Irum for obtaining first position in BS Economics 2008-2012 session. Chief guest Ghani while addressing the students and announcing the unemployment grant said, “The K-P government is a firm believer in bringing positive change through imparting quality education to the province’s youth.” “Those talented students of K-P who wish to seek admission in reputed universities in the world will be provided financial assistance from the provincial government,” he added. Commenting on the government’s plans for improving the quality of teaching and research in K-P, Ghani said 150 lecturers from the province will be eligible for scholarships in order to enrich their academic background. University of Peshawar (UoP) Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Muhammad Rasul Jan urged the students to strive to be responsible citizens and to work for the promotion of female literacy rate in the province. This year’s graduates are special because they are the golden jubilee students of JCW which has completed fifty long years, said Muhammad Rasul Jan in his address. Published in The Express Tribune, April 20th, 2014.