New Loan Scheme Prioritizes Students in Technical Fields and Those with Disabilities

The Ministry of Higher Education has launched this year’s student loan scheme, with a special focus on students with disabilities. Minister Dr. Ali Haider shared that, similar to last year, the scheme will prioritize students with disabilities and allow them to cover various expenses related to their education. Students currently enrolled in courses will also have the opportunity to apply for loans to cover additional costs.

This year’s scheme aims to offer more than just financial assistance for tuition. It will provide opportunities for higher education graduates to complete internships and medical fellowships. Additionally, the scheme will include "top-up" loans for students who may face delays in completing their programs due to uncontrollable circumstances.

Minister Haider emphasized that two-thirds of the loan funds will be reserved for students pursuing highly technical fields. Applicants in these areas will also receive 10 extra points in the selection process, giving them a better chance of securing the loan. Furthermore, in line with the President’s decision, all future student loans will be Sharia-compliant, meaning no interest or administrative fees will be charged. This includes the repayment of previous loans, where the department will adjust the repayment amounts to exclude the 1% administrative fee that was previously applied.

Since the launch of the scheme, over Rs 805 million has been disbursed in loans, with Rs 71 million allocated so far this year. The Ministry has opened the application process through the MyEdu portal, with the deadline for submissions set for Wednesday, April 30 at 1:30 PM.