Federal Minister of Maritime Affairs, Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry, announced the launch of the Maritime Educational Endowment Fund (MEEF) to offer scholarships to the deserving and talented children of coastal communities.
On Sunday, Minister Chaudhry said that the MEEF aims to promote inclusive development by allowing quality education for young people of more than 70 coastal and fishermen, especially in the Sindh and Balutchistan provinces. “This initiative will help cultivate an essentially qualified maritime workforce in the future of the country,” he noted.
He declared that the creation of the fund is based on recommendations of the Standing Committee of the National Assembly on Maritime Affairs and reflects the wider commitment of the Government to Empowerment focused on coastal regions.
“The Maritime Educational Endowment Fund underlines our dedication to sustainable development of human capital,” said Junaid Anwar Chaudhry. “By investing today in young coastlines, we launch the basics of a resilient and prosperous maritime sector tomorrow.”
To finance the MEEF, the ministry will restore the contributions of corporate social responsibility (CSR) of organizations operating under its jurisdiction. This redirection of CSR resources aims to create a centralized and sustainable financing mechanism to support long -term educational opportunities.
The Minister also announced the formation of a dedicated supervisory committee, responsible for ensuring transparency, equitable distribution of scholarships and solid monitoring and evaluation executives.
In its initial phase, the MEEF will target students from coastal regions, with plans to develop nationally, allowing more students across the country to benefit from the initiative. “This initiative represents our vision of a educated, autonomous and prosperous maritime community,” added the minister.
Stressing the urgent need for intervention, Minister Chaudhry cited data from recent education surveys showing school abandonment rates that exceed 40% among children in coastal regions – in particular in the remote districts of Sindh and Baloutchistan – to financial constraints and inadequate educational infrastructure.
“The MEEF is more than a simple scholarship program – it is a strategic investment in the future of the Pakistani maritime sector,” said the minister. “This symbolizes our sustainable commitment to guarantee that no capable student is left behind because of economic difficulties.”
The launch of the MEEF marks an essential step in the wider strategy of the ministry to raise coastal populations, improve educational results and strengthen the maritime potential of Pakistan thanks to targeted investments and opportunities, he added.
