LAHORE: The Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) and Afghan government have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to set up an Afghanistan Scholarship Programme (ASP).
LUMS Vice Chancellor Prof Dr S Sohail H Naqvi represented LUMS while Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Janan Mosazai signed on behalf of the Afghanistan Government. The representatives of both sides also attended the ceremony.
Afghanistan Scholarship Programme, announced by President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani during his visit to Islamabad in November last year, will provide talented Afghan students an opportunity to study at LUMS in its graduate and undergraduate programmes. The ASP will provide scholarships to Afghan students who are admitted on merit.
Ambassador Mosazai said that he is delighted to sign this agreement that establishes a special scholarship program for talented Afghan students to study at LUMS, one of the region’s top centres of excellence.
Speaking on the occasion, LUMS chancellor said that it was a grand opening, expanding upon centuries’ old connections and trade routes.
“It is a showcase moment for the whole world to see how two neighbouring countries can collaborate for betterment of each other. This scholarship scheme is extremely important as fresh new minds from Afghanistan will bring fresh concepts and challenges for our students and faculty at LUMS,” he said.
The Government of Afghanistan has allocated an initial fund of $1 million for this program, which will be complemented by an additional amount of $2 million announced for the programme by the Government of Pakistan.
The programme will commence from the Academic year 2015/16. LUMS is ready to welcome the first batch of students from Afghanistan.
