Islamabad: The Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan has provided higher education opportunities to nearly 50,000 financially disadvantaged students through its Need-Based Scholarship Programme, an initiative operational since 2012. The program aims to assist students from underprivileged backgrounds in accessing higher education at public sector universities by covering full tuition and providing a monthly stipend.

According to Higher Education Commission of Pakistan, the program has so far benefited 46,824 students, allowing them to pursue undergraduate studies. Students are selected based on their financial need, which is assessed by Institutional Scholarship Award Committees (ISACs) at participating universities. The scholarships are funded through recurring grant allocations from HEC to the universities.

In the academic year 2024-25 alone, 3,946 scholarships were awarded under this program. By expanding access to higher education, the initiative seeks to empower disadvantaged youth, promote quality education, and foster sustainable economic growth across the country. The program is supported by the Government of Pakistan, which has tasked HEC with facilitating these efforts to elevate the socio-economic status of students through education and enhanced career opportunities.