Al-Azhar University Egypt Announces More Scholarships for Pakistani Students

The Al-Azhar University, Egypt has announced to raise number of scholarships for Pakistani students on Sunday. The University has already been providing 50 seats to Pakistani students on scholarship basis each year. This announcement occurred on Sunday when Religious Affairs Minister Dr Nur ul Haq Qadri met with the head of Al-Azhar University Dr Ahmed al Tayyab in Cairo.

The head of Al-Azhar University, Egypt made an official statement to the press saying, ‘50 allocated scholarships for Pakistani students will be further increased’. During the meeting the importance of strengthening bilateral relationships between Pakistan and Egypt were discussed. The Pakistani Minister for Religious Affairs invited Dr. Tayyab to attend the “4th International Message of Islam Conference” which is planned to be held in the month of March.

Other Scholarship programmes available for Pakistani students to study in Egypt in 2019 are as follows:

1. Kamal Adham Scholarships for Television and Digital Journalism Courses in Egypt
2. Yousef Jameel for PhD Courses in Applied Sciences and Engineering Fellowships in Egypt
3. Molly Bartlett Endowed Scholarships at The American University in Egypt
4. Egypt Government Fellowship Program 2015 for Pakistani Students in Egypt

Students of Jinnah Sindh Medical University (JSMU) Await Supreme Court’s Verdict for Their Future

SIndh Government had appealed the Supreme Court of Sindh to reconsider its verdict of 2016 transferring three hospitals namely Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC), National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD) and National Institute of Child Health (NICH) to Federal Government.

The three hospitals are teaching and training hospitals of Medical Courses to almost 7,000 medical students. The Court had given a period of 90 days to the government for this transition. Under this transition, all the administrative, financial, teaching faculty, degree certification and recognition will be given to Federal Government. As per the sources this transition may cause cancellation of affiliation of JSMU by the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC). Because as per the rules of PMDC any affiliated University or College to it must have its own teaching faculty and teaching hospital.

A senior official of JSMU has told the press, ‘In order to save students’ future, it’s important that either the court in its detailed judgment or the federal government declare that the related healthcare facilities will serve as teaching hospitals for JSMU students’. He further told the press that the similar case occurred with Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Medical University whose affiliation was cancelled by PMDC when its teaching faculty was transferred to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences.

A student of JSMU expressed her reservation regarding apex court’s verdict saying, ‘Our future is at stake. We request to the court and judges to make an announcement in this regard so that students could pursue their education with a peaceful mind’. The appending result of apex court’s verdict has caused confusion and rife in the medical university’s students. It is a source of concern for the parents and students who are currently studying in JSMU.