SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM FOR STUDENTS OF COMMUNICATION

To further build on his vision of providing innovative and responsible media professionals for the future, Amir Jahangir initiated the first-ever media scholarship program in Pakistan. To institutionalize and mainstream the initiative, SAMAA TV partnered with the Higher Education Commission Pakistan for the scholarship program which is financially supported by SAMAA TV.

The project was not without its potential pitfalls. HEC, being a government body was not too known with establishing public-private partnership and many ambitious projects have failed to see the light of the day due to bureaucratic red tape. However with Amir Jahangir’s strong commitment and dialogue with the HEC executive board of members, he convinced the board members that such partnerships are the way forward to improve the higher education in the country and provide the underprivileged youth with better job opportunities. The resulting HEC-SAMAA scholarship focuses on students from public sector universities across Pakistan with a minimum family income. The eligibility criteria aim at helping underprivileged media students to be part of the mainstream society by building their capacity and providing them with job opportunities to improve their socio-economic conditions.

It is to Mr. Jahangir’s credit that the scholarship program has in some measure helped bridge the gaps between the urban and rural areas and brought quality education to deserving students with financial difficulties. These initiatives of SAMAA have been recognized even by rival media channels.