Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry has announced the establishment of the Maritime Educational Endowment Fund (MEEF), a new initiative designed to provide scholarships to deserving and high-achieving students from Pakistan’s coastal communities.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the Minister emphasized that the fund aims to foster a skilled and competitive maritime workforce, which he described as vital to the nation’s long-term development.
The initiative specifically targets youth from more than 70 coastal and fishing communities, with a focus on underserved regions in Sindh and Balochistan.
To ensure effective implementation, the government will form an independent oversight committee tasked with maintaining transparency, ensuring equitable distribution of scholarships, and establishing robust monitoring and evaluation systems.
The fund is part of a broader governmental strategy to promote inclusive, education-driven development in marginalized coastal areas.
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Financing for MEEF will come from a restructured approach to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) contributions made by organizations under the Ministry’s jurisdiction. These CSR funds will be consolidated into a centralized, sustainable mechanism aimed at supporting long-term educational access and opportunity for coastal youth.
