The Federal Minister of Maritime Affairs, Muhammad Junaid, Anwar Chaudhry, has announced the launch of the Maritime Educational Endowment Fund (Meef) to provide scholarships to the deserving and talented children of the coastal communities.
In a statement on Sunday, Minister Chaudhry declared that Meef aims to promote inclusive development by allowing access to quality education for young people with more than 70 coastal and fishing communities, particularly in the provinces of Sindh and Baluchistan. “This initiative will help cultivate a skilled maritime workforce for the future of the country,” he said.
He said that the creation of the Fund is based on the recommendations of the National Committee of Maritime Affairs of the Assembly Assembly, and reflects the broader commitment of the Government with the empowerment based on education in the coastal regions.
“The maritime educational endowment underlines our dedication to sustainable development of human capital,” said Junaid Anwar Chaudhry. “By investing in coastal youth today, we are laying the foundations for a resistant and prosperous maritime sector tomorrow.”
To finance the Meef, the Ministry will restructure the contributions of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) of the organizations that operate under their jurisdiction. This redirection of CSR resources aims to create a centralized and sustainable financing mechanism to support long -term educational opportunities.
The minister also announced the formation of a dedicated supervision committee, responsible for guaranteeing transparency, the distribution of equitable scholarships and the solid monitoring and evaluation frameworks.
In its initial phase, the MEEF will address students in coastal regions, with plans to expand nationwide, allowing more students throughout the country to benefit from the initiative. “This initiative represents our vision of an educated maritime community, empowered and prosperous,” added the minister.
Highlighting the urgent need for intervention, Minister Chaudhry cited data from recent educational surveys that show school dropout rates that exceed 40% among children in coastal regions, particularly in remote districts of Sindh and Baluchistan, owned financial limitations and inadequate educational infrastructure.
“The Meef is more than a simple scholarship program: it is a strategic investment in the future of Pakistan’s maritime sector,” said the minister. “It symbolizes our lasting commitment to ensure that no capable student is left behind due to economic difficulties.”
The MEEF launch marks a critical milestone in the broader strategy of the Ministry to raise coastal populations, improve educational results and strengthen Pakistan’s maritime potential through investment and specific opportunities, he added.
