PESHAWAR
\nAfter the complete digitization of the scholarship program to ensure transparency, performance, and merit, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Education Foundation (KPEF) has finalized 224 merit-based scholarships for talented and deserving students from across the province who are currently studying at some of the country\u2019s leading universities.
\nAccording to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Education Foundation (KPEF), after approval from its Board of Directors, KPEF introduced a fully digital scholarship process \u2014 the first of its kind in the country.
\nConceived and implemented by Managing Director Zarif Maani, this end-to-end online system operates through a secure portal, ensuring that every step of the application and selection process remains transparent, traceable, and merit-based.
\nAccording to KPEF, a total of 3,669 applications were received from 32 districts, including 2,935 for undergraduate (BS) programs and 734 for postgraduate (MS) studies.
\nManaging Director Zarif Maani explained that the foundation, in collaboration with 30 top-tier universities, implemented a standardized and accountable selection process.
\nThese universities include Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute (GIKI), National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), FAST National University, Quaid-e-Azam University Islamabad, University of Engineering and Technology Peshawar, National College of Arts, and others.
\nApplications were reviewed through a seven-step digital mechanism that began with a public advertisement and concluded with the direct transfer of funds to relevant universities for disbursement to selected students.
\nThe multi-layered evaluation process included interviews by institutional scholarship award committees, internal verification by KPEF, publication of provisional merit lists, a one-week appeal period, and final approval.
\nAccording to the Foundation, the final selection results show that 122 scholarships were awarded to BS students \u2014 64 male and 58 female \u2014 and 98 scholarships to MS students \u2014 49 male and 49 female \u2014 reflecting the Foundation\u2019s commitment to gender equality and regional inclusion.
\nZarif Maani further stated that special attention was given to disadvantaged and vulnerable groups throughout the process. Out of 482 orphan applicants, 77 were selected; out of 285 applicants who had memorized the Quran (Hafiz-e-Quran), 26 were awarded scholarships. Additionally, ten students registered in social welfare programs were supported, and one student with a documented disability also received a scholarship.
\nOfficials noted that the selected students were not only from disadvantaged backgrounds but also talented and selected purely on merit.
\nDistrict-level participation showed a strong representation from areas like Charsadda, Chitral, Buner, Battagram, Dera Ismail Khan, Kohat, Swabi, and Mohmand, where the application-to-selection ratio was highest. In contrast, districts like Tank, Tor Ghar, and Hangu had the lowest selection numbers due to fewer applications and merit-based filtering.
\nThe eligibility criteria for the scholarship were clear and unambiguous. Applicants were required to have at least 70% marks or a CGPA of 3.0 in their last exam. They had to be residents of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa or its merged districts and enrolled in the first year of an approved BS or MS program in fields such as Engineering, Emerging Sciences, Management Sciences, General Sciences, or Arts.
\nThe household income limit was set at Rs. 160,000 per month. Additionally, applicants benefiting from other scholarship schemes were deemed ineligible to avoid duplication of support.
\nThe Managing Director stated that the Foundation\u2019s digital platform not only eliminated manual handling but also introduced a significant quantified merit system that automatically generates merit based on predefined eligibility and need-based indicators.
\nHe added that the system ensured fair and efficient scholarship disbursement through a transparent dashboard interface jointly monitored by the Foundation and its partner institutions.
\nScholarships will be renewable annually, contingent on students maintaining the required academic performance, specifically a CGPA of at least 3.0 or 70% marks. Those failing to meet the criteria risk losing funding.
\nThe Managing Director concluded by saying, \u201cThis digitized and quantified model is a replicable framework for other scholarship programs nationwide. It integrates institutional collaboration, technical efficiency, and social equity. This will help reform the support system for public-sector students.\u201d
\nHe also mentioned that to support the remaining applicants, the Foundation has recently launched the \u2018Adopt a Scholar Program\u2019, which aims to raise donations from within the country and abroad.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
PESHAWAR After the complete digitization of the scholarship program to ensure transparency, performance, and merit, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Education Foundation (KPEF) has finalized 224 merit-based scholarships for talented and deserving students from across the province who are currently studying at some of the country\u2019s leading universities. According to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Education Foundation (KPEF), after […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":488458,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-488434","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-peshawar"],"yoast_head":"\n