ISLAMABAD: The Higher Education Commission (HEC) is offering fully-funded undergraduate scholarships to students from Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) to study in any public-sector university across Pakistan. The deadline for the current batch’s application is September 30. According to a press release issued by the HEC on Sunday, students who have passed their intermediate examination and are less than 22 years of age on the closing date of application can apply for this scholarship. The students already enrolled in the undergraduate programmes after fall 2023 are also eligible. The programme aims to bridge the educational gap of less served areas by ensuring that students from such areas enjoy the same opportunities for academic advancement as those from more urbanised areas. Last date to submit application in Sept 30 The scholarship covers tuition fee, hostel fee, a monthly stipend, and books and travelling allowance. So far, around 250 students belonging to Gilgit-Baltistan have been placed in universities across Pakistan for their undergraduate studies, read the press release. “To encourage maximum students to avail this opportunity, HEC team led by Adviser (Scholarships) HEC Mohammad Raza Chohan visited main campus of Karakoram International University (KIU) in Gilgit, KIU sub-campus in Hunza and University of Baltistan, Skardu,” it said, adding that awareness sessions were held for students to inform them about the significance and scope of this opportunity as well as providing them guidance to submit the online applications. The press release said that HEC Project Director Javed Hassan Awan provided a detailed presentation to students on the application procedure. He informed the audience that the test of the applicants would be conducted in the mid of October, however exact date and time would be conveyed to students through email. He also informed the students about scholarship opportunities other than this scheme. Speaking during these sessions, Adviser HEC Raza Chohan highlighted the role of youth for country’s development and elaborated HEC’s various initiatives for facilitating youth so that they could effectively contribute for socio-economic growth of Pakistan. He said this scholarship was one such dedicated programme for supporting the youth of Gilgit-Baltistan region. He encouraged the students to believe in their own potential and put in dedicated efforts to achieve their goals in life. “Set very clear educational goals and work hard to achieve excellence in your chosen field of studies,” he added. The HEC team also held meetings with the management and faculty of the said universities of GB and discussed how students could be motivated and guided to avail such opportunities. The HEC adviser appreciated KIU for already catering to a large student body through different scholarship schemes. Acting KIU Vice Chancellor Dr Abdul Razzaq appreciated the commission for launching a special scholarship programme for the GB region.