In a historic move, the University of Oxford has decided to provide scholarships to students from Balochistan through the Benazir Scholarship Program, according to a report by a TV channel.
An agreement was signed between Oxford University and the Government of Balochistan to facilitate this initiative.
Sarfraz Ahmed Bugti attended the signing ceremony of the scholarship agreement between the Oxford Pakistan Program and the University of Oxford for students from Balochistan. Speaking at the event, Bugti emphasized that the scholarship will bridge the educational gap and promote higher education.
Mir Sarfraz Bugti became the first Chief Minister of Balochistan to speak at Lady Margaret Hall at Oxford University, where Benazir Bhutto, the only Muslim leader with a portrait in the hall, had also studied. The event saw the attendance of 150 delegates, including notable figures such as Malala Yousafzai, Senator Anwaarul Haq Kakar, Aamir Ibrahim, Mohammad Khishgi, Farooq Sheikh, and Professor Kamal Munir.
“The poor students of Balochistan will receive an education where many great personalities, including the martyred Benazir Bhutto, studied,” said Bugti. He highlighted that this initiative would connect the local needs of Balochistan with global educational standards, addressing educational disparities and enhancing the linkage between local aspirations and international academic standards.
“This is a fundamental commitment to the educational transformation and empowerment of Balochistan’s youth,” Bugti outlined. He noted that higher education plays a crucial role in strengthening democracy and social progress and that this scholarship will be a milestone in training future leaders from Balochistan.
“This is not just financial aid, but a means of empowering young people from Balochistan,” Bugti elaborated.
The new scholarship program aims to offer talented Baloch students the chance to pursue higher education at a top-ranking global university.
