QUETTA: Seeing the pictures of world-famous personalities on a wall of Lady Margaret Hall, the University of Oxford, UK, Sadullah Akhtar, a Quetta-born Pakistani journalist was swayed by excitement as it felt to him like daydreaming.
The aspirations of students from Balochistan to study at the prestigious University of Oxford are set to become reality. The signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Chief Minister Mir Sarfaraz Bugti and Oxford University marks a significant milestone in the educational landscape of the region.
The agreement, forged under the auspices of the Benazir Scholarship Program in collaboration with the Oxford Pakistan Program (OPP), aims to provide deserving students from Balochistan with scholarships to pursue higher education at Oxford. This initiative signals a shift in paradigm, where the once distant dream of attending renowned institutions like Oxford is now within reach for talented students from low-income backgrounds.
For Sadullah Akhtar, a recipient of the prestigious Chevening Scholarship, the prospect of studying at Oxford seemed like an unattainable fantasy. However, through perseverance and dedication, Sadullah has transcended barriers to now embark on a transformative journey as a student at the University of Westminster.
Reflecting on his journey, Sadullah expressed profound excitement at the opportunity to visit Oxford University, where the illustrious alumni serve as an inspiration. His narrative exemplifies the transformative power of education and the invaluable role scholarships play in unlocking doors to academic excellence.
“I am very excited to be here in London and more importantly, visiting Oxford University as a journalist was my dream that came true,” Sadullah told APP. “What inspired me the most, were the pictures of Oxford University alumni that were hanging on the wall of LMH.”
Starting from a low level in journalism, Sadullah is now a journalist turned student at the University of Westminster – a reward for his hard work to earn a name in journalism to a level where he was offered this scholarship. “I am overwhelmed with excitement to be studying for one year at Westminster and visiting Oxford. My hard work finally paid me back.”
Mir Sarfaraz Bugti underscored the significance of education in shaping a democratic society. He emphasized the commitment of the Balochistan government to bridging educational disparities and nurturing a generation of educated leaders.
“No one can deny the importance of education for a truly democratic society and this MoU reflects our commitment to education and nurturing an educated generation in Balochistan,” Bugti remarked. “This project is hoped to mitigate educational inequalities by improving regional educational standards in collaboration with world-known universities.”
Earlier, ordinary students from Balochistan could have rarely thought of joining such world-known institutions but things are now changing and a leap forward in fulfilling this dream is inking an agreement with Oxford University by Chief Minister of Balochistan Mir Sarfaraz Bugti.
One who gets enrolled in Oxford must know that he will be following the footsteps of some of the most renowned Oxford-qualified political figures in Pakistan, who have even served the country as our Prime Ministers and Presidents.
Benazir Scholarship Program and OPP is an initiative of its kind to help increase Pakistani students’ representation at a leading university and its credit goes to all contributors who struggled for better opportunities for Balochistan students.
Since its establishment three years ago, OPP has become the single largest Pakistan-focused academic platform outside Pakistan. To address the under-representation of Pakistani and British Pakistani students at Oxford, and to raise the academic profile of Pakistan and Pakistan-related areas of interest amongst Oxford’s faculty are the two major objectives of OPP.
OPP Core Committee member, Dr Talha J. Pirzada has informed that this year 11 outstanding scholars spanning a wide range of disciplines have been enrolled in Oxford.
Notably, Jabir Ali, a resident of the small village of Kundal Khokhran in the Jhang district of Punjab, is one of the eleven luckiest Oxford Alumni of 2024.
“Alhamdulillah, I have got a scholarship at the University of Oxford, for my Ph.D. It was my dream to study at such a university. But it was a bumpy ride. I was rejected by many universities but finally, I got through,” said Jabir Ali, son of a modest farmer in Kundal Khokhran.
Another Oxford Alumni 2024, Minha, is fully aware of how the Oxford brand may assist in fulfilling one’s future ambitions.
“The ability to accept the offer at this juncture determines the parameters of your future successes. Such opportunities pave the way for your excellence in different arena of life,” Minha stated.
Malala Yousafzai, Nobel Peace Prize laureate and a distinguished alumna of Lady Margaret Hall, also reaffirmed her support for girls’ education, highlighting her personal involvement and commitment to quality education for female students.
Her role is reflected in establishing two scholarships that assist Pakistani female students in pursuing their academic goals at the University of Oxford.
The launch of the Benazir Scholarship Program by Chief Minister Bugti-led Balochistan government is a ray of hope for securing many more opportunities for students across the province and forging ahead with a commitment to make the country democratically strong and financially viable.
There is no doubt that Pakistan has the unmatched talent to serve the nation and it was direly needed to fully materialize this talent for the progress and wellbeing of our country. – APP
