ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs, Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry, has announced the Maritime Educational Endowment Fund (MEEF) — a landmark initiative aimed at offering scholarships to underprivileged students from coastal and fishing communities.
Talking to media persons in Islamabad on Sunday, Minister said that the fund will benefit youth across more than 70 coastal settlements, with a particular focus on underserved areas in Balochistan and Sindh where access to education is still a major challenge.
The fund follows recommendations made by the National Assembly Standing Committee on Maritime Affairs and reflects the government’s commitment to advancing educational opportunities in underserved regions. The initiative is designed not only to curb high dropout rates—which exceed 40% in some coastal districts—but also to nurture a skilled and resilient workforce for the maritime industry.
To ensure the fund’s sustainability, the Ministry will reallocate Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) contributions from organizations operating under its domain. These restructured contributions will support a centralized scholarship mechanism designed for long-term impact.
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An oversight committee will be established to monitor the fund’s operations, ensuring fair scholarship distribution, transparency, and robust evaluation processes.
Initially focused on coastal communities, the MEEF is expected to expand its reach across Pakistan in future phases.
