KABUL signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish the Afghanistan Scholarship Programme (ASP).
A statement from the Afghanistan Embassy in Islamabad said that during his visit to Islamabad in November last year, it was announced by President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani.
Prof. Dr. S. Sohail H. Naqvi, vice shancellor of LUMS, represented the university while Afghanistan Ambassador Janan Mosazai, signed on behalf of his government. Present at the ceremony were representatives of both sides.
The ASP is an exclusive scholarship for talented Afghan students to study at LUMS in its graduate and undergraduate programmes. The ASP will provide scholarships to Afghan students who are admitted on merit.
“I am delighted to sign this agreement today that establishes a special scholarship program for talented Afghan students to study at LUMS, one of our region’s top centers of excellence”, Mosazai remarked.
He said that “developing our human resources in all fields constitutes a key pillar of President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani’s vision for a peaceful, prosperous and self-reliant Afghanistan.” “The Arrival of Afghan students under the ASP in Punjab Province will also create a new people-to-people link between the two countries, thus strengthening the existing solid bonds of brotherhood and friendship between Afghanistan and Pakistan.”
Speaking on the occasion, Prof. Naqvi stated: “This is a grand opening, expanding upon centuries’ old connections and trade routes. It is a showcase moment for the whole world to see how two neighboring countries can collaborate for betterment of each other. This scholarship scheme is extremely important as fresh new minds from Afghanistan will bring fresh concepts and challenges for our students and faculty at LUMS.”
He went on to say that it was an opportunity to work jointly that would bring young students as Afghan ambassadors to Pakistan and when they go back to Afghanistan they would be Pakistan’s ambassadors in their own country.
The government of Afghanistan has allocated an initial fund of $1 million for this program, which would be complemented by an additional amount of $2 million announced for the programme by the government of Pakistan.
LUMS plans to hold various marketing activities in Afghanistan to raise awareness of the programme. A “Summer Orientation Programme” will be organised for the ASP scholars to prepare them for regular classes at LUMS.
The programme will commence from the Academic year 2015/16. LUMS is ready to welcome the first batch of students from Afghanistan.
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