Federal Minister for Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety Syed Imran Ahmad Shah visited the National University of Modern Languages in Islamabad and spoke to the media about the disbursement, transparency and effectiveness of education aid provided through Pakistan Bait-ul-Mal.
The Minister noted that under Pakistan Bait-ul-Mal’s Individual Financial Assistance (Education) Programme more than 75,000 students across Pakistan have received support since 2004, with total expenditures exceeding PKR 2 billion. He said the education aid has been crucial in ensuring students from low-income backgrounds can continue their studies.
Highlighting recent allocations, the Minister reported that from July 2024 to June 2025 over PKR 290 million was disbursed to 8,059 students, while from July 2025 to February 2026 more than PKR 200 million reached 5,519 students. These figures, he said, reflect a stronger drive to make education aid timely and widely accessible.
In line with the vision of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the government has increased the annual assistance ceiling under Pakistan Bait-ul-Mal from PKR 100,000 to PKR 150,000 per student to reduce financial barriers to education. The Minister added that the number of scholarships will be expanded further to meet growing needs.
Speaking about NUML-specific support, the Minister shared that between 2008 and 2026 a total of 6,739 NUML students have benefited from roughly PKR 240 million in education aid through Pakistan Bait-ul-Mal, and so far in the 2025–26 financial year 171 students have received approximately PKR 9 million. He also referenced the memorandum of understanding signed in February 2023, under which at least 250 students are provided scholarships annually.
The Minister emphasised that the state’s role goes beyond fee payments and must ensure no student’s education is interrupted by financial hardship. He also outlined enhancements to the Medical Assistance Programme, raising the per-patient ceiling from PKR 1 million to PKR 1.5 million to facilitate timely treatment for deserving students.
Reaffirming a focus on impact rather than expenditure alone, the Federal Minister said continued monitoring and transparency will guide efforts so that education aid and social protection benefits reach the most deserving segments of society across Pakistan.
