Moalims

ISLAMABAD: Largely seen as a gigantic step in nation building process, the National Testing Service-Pakistan (NTS) announced offering scholarships to talented students of Internally Displaced Persons (IDS) after the military announced some areas cleared of militants in the South Waziristan agency---a restive tribal region in FATA.

In this regard, arrangements have been finalized to hold ceremony for signing of MoU in Islamabad on October 26, 2015.

Federal Minister for State and Frontier Regions (SAFRON) Gen. (Retd) Abdul Qadir Baloch will be the chief guest.

Apart from NTS senior officials, Senators and Members National Assembly (MNAs) from South Waziristan, Fata, and other stakeholders will attend the ceremony.

As the importance of education can’t be denied in the progress, prosperity and development of any society. In view of the current situation in parts of tribal areas, NTS Pakistan in collaboration with Mahsud Welfare Association (MWA) is set to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for award of scholarship to the children of internally displaced persons (IDPs).

NTS is an organization which is well aware of its social responsibilities towards social and education uplift of society at large and creation of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) division to help and support the efforts in improving socio-economic condition of underprivileged, and make Pakistan a developed economy is testimony to this fact.

Keeping in view that education sector in the tribal areas was in shambles, the NTS decided to offer scholarship to the displaced kids of the area. “We’ve taken the initiative to award scholarships to talented students for a better tomorrow. The scholarhisps will go a long way to faciliate the poverty-stricken students who cannot afford to continue their studies because of economic woe after their displacement,” said Dr. Sherzada Khan, NTS Chiefr Operation Officer.

MWA chairman Rehmat Khan Mehsud while lauding the step taken by NTS Pakistan, says: “I really appreciate the step taken by the NTS to faciliate the deserved but talented students. It is an admited fact that education plays a highly significant role in prosperity of nation and the trend introduced by the NTS will encourage other organizations to faciliate the deserved segment of society.”

In 2009, Pakistan military launched anti-insurgents operation Rah-e-Nijat (path to salvation) in South Waziristan Agency, which triggered mass exodus of tribal families to down districts of the country.

The situation in this tribal belt resulted in closure of schools and colleges which left far-reaching negative impact on the education of the students. Majority of the students couldn’t continue their studies due to financial problems of the displaced families.

It was in this situation that the elders including civil servants of the Mahsud tribe joined hands to help the needy students to continue their studies, which resulted in creation of MWA--- a non-profit organization. The mission and vision of the Association is to prevent students from dropping out of schools due to financial problems.

News Reference