AIOU announces free education

Islamabad: Allama Iqbal Open University Vice-Chancellor Prof. Dr. Zia-ul-Qayyum has announced to provide free matriculation education in Gilgit-Baltistan from the spring semester 2021 starting January 15.

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Talking to a delegation of journalists, Prof. Dr. Zia-ul-Qayyum said that the Open University is playing a pivotal role in increasing the country's literacy rate and bringing higher education students to their doorsteps. "We try not to deprive any child of the jewel of education because of money," he said. That is why the University offers thousands of scholarships every semester for poor and needy students.

Dr. Zia-ul-Qayyum added that there is a lack of educational facilities in remote areas, due to which the literacy rate there is low. The University is encouraging all kinds of residents to provide education in such areas on a priority basis.

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He said that the University has decided to provide free education up to matriculation for Balochistan, tribal districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Gilgit-Baltistan. No fee will be charged from students in these areas. All expenses from admission to a degree will be borne by the University from its endowment fund's profits. The Vice-Chancellor has directed the Regional Directors of the university to take this message of the University to the corners of their respective areas to avail this facility.