The Directorate of Financial Assistance & University Advancement at Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi hosted an interactive session with Pakistan Bait-ul-Mal scholarship awardees on Wednesday, January 7, 2026, attended by Federal Minister for Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety Syed Imran Ahmad Shah and Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Qamar-uz-Zaman.
Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Qamar-uz-Zaman highlighted Pakistan Bait-ul-Mal’s role in supporting financially challenged students and noted that many beneficiaries come from middle and lower-middle-class families facing rising costs. He briefed the minister on the university’s academic programs, research projects, and community development work, with emphasis on agricultural innovation, sustainability and rural uplift.
Addressing the gathering, Federal Minister Syed Imran Ahmad Shah reaffirmed the government’s commitment to equitable education and said the PBM scholarship program is a key tool to remove financial barriers for talented youth. He declared a special initiative for PMAS-Arid Agriculture University under which there will be no limit on scholarship awards for its students, instructing Pakistan Bait-ul-Mal to process every application received from the university so no deserving student is left behind.
The minister also announced an increase in the annual scholarship stipend from Rs. 100,000 to Rs. 150,000, a move he said reflects the government’s determination to broaden access to higher education. He clarified that the scholarship funds will come from a dedicated budget allocation and not from Zakat, ensuring transparent and inclusive support for students.
During his remarks the minister touched on Pakistan’s international cooperation, including the security agreement with Saudi Arabia concerning the protection of Masjid al-Haram and Masjid an-Nabawi, and urged students to remain focused on studies and professional development. He warned against distractions from misinformation and fake content on social media and advised students to use digital platforms wisely to seek knowledge rather than noise.
The interactive session concluded with scholarship cheques being distributed to deserving students by the minister and the vice chancellor, reinforcing the immediate impact of the PBM scholarship expansion at PMAS-AAUR and the strengthened collaboration between government and academia to support education access across Pakistan.
