The federal government has announced the creation of the Maritime Educational Endowment Fund (MEEF) to award scholarships to exceptional and deserving pupils from coastal areas.

Through the provision of high-quality education to young people from more than 70 coastal and fishing areas, especially in Sindh and Balochistan, the scholarship program seeks to promote inclusive development.

Here on Sunday, Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Junaid Anwar Chaudhry announced the Endowment Fund's inauguration, pointing out that the program will aid in developing a trained maritime workforce that is vital to the nation's future.

According to him, the fund was established in response to suggestions made by the National Assembly Standing Committee on Maritime Affairs.

"Our commitment to sustainable human capital development is demonstrated by the Maritime Educational Endowment Fund," stated Junaid Anwar Chaudhry. "We are creating the groundwork for a resilient and successful maritime industry tomorrow by investing in coastal youth today."

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) donations from entities under its control will be reorganized by the ministry to fund the MEEF. Creating a coordinated and long-lasting financial system to provide long-term educational opportunities is the goal of this CSR resource redirection.

In order to guarantee openness, fair scholarship distribution, and robust monitoring and assessment systems, the minister also declared the establishment of a special oversight committee.

The minister also declared the establishment of a special oversight committee tasked with guaranteeing openness, fair scholarship distribution, and robust monitoring and assessment systems.

Hoping to expand nationally, the MEEF will start with students at coastal locations and be able to reach out to more students across the country.

“This project is a realization of our aspiration for a wealthy, empowered, and educated maritime community,” he added.

Emphasizing the urgency of taking action, the minister referred to findings of the recent education surveys that revealed that children in coastal areas, particularly in the remote districts of Sindh and Balochistan, had school dropout rates in excess of 40% due to economic constraints and lack of infrastructure.

Minister Chaudhry underlined the urgent need for action by referencing data from recent education surveys that showed that children in coastal regions, especially in remote districts of Sindh and Balochistan, had school dropout rates of over 40% as a result of financial limitations and inadequate educational infrastructure.

"The MEEF is a long-term investment in the future of Pakistan's maritime sector, and it is much more than a scholarship, he added. “It symbolizes our enduring commitment to ensuring no qualified student is locked out due to financial insecurity.”