The Federal Minister of Maritime Affairs, Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry, has announced the launch of the Maritime Education Fund (MEEF) to give scholarships to coastal community’s deserving and talented children.
In a statement on Sunday, Minister Chaudhry declared that MEEF is aiming to promote inclusive development by providing access to quality education for young people from over 70 coastal and fishing communities, especially in the provinces of Sindh and Balochistan. “This initiative will help cultivate a skilled maritime workforce that is essential to the country’s future,” he noted.
He said that the establishment of the fund is based on recommendations from the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Maritime Affairs and reflects the government’s broader commitment to educational empowerment in coastal regions.
“The Maritime Educational Girical Fund emphasizes our dedication to sustainable development of human capital,” said Junaid Anwar Chaudhry. “By investing in coastal nuts today, we lay the basis for an elastic and prosperous maritime sector tomorrow.”
In order to finance MEEF, the Ministry will restructure the company’s social responsibility (CSR) contributions from organizations operating under its jurisdiction. This redirection of CSR resources aims to create a centralized and sustainable financing mechanism in support of long-term educational opportunities.
The Minister also announced the formation of a dedicated supervisory committee responsible for ensuring transparency, just scholarship and strong surveillance and evaluation frameworks.
In its initial phase, MEEF will target students in coastal regions with plans to expand nationally, enabling more students across the country to take advantage of the initiative. “This initiative represents our vision of a trained, authorized and thriving maritime society,” the minister added.
For the urgent need for intervention, minister cited Chaudhry data from recent educational surveys showing the waiver of the school, exceeding 40% among children in coastal regions – especially in remote districts of Sindh and Balochistan – to financial restrictions and inadequate educational infrastructure.
“MEEF is more than just a scholarship program – it’s a strategic investment in the future of Pakistan’s maritime sector,” the minister said. “It symbolizes our sustained obligation to ensure that there is no skilled student because of financial difficulty.”
The launch of MEEF marks a critical milestone in the ministry’s wider strategy for lifting coastal populations, improving educational results and strengthening Pakistan’s maritime potential through targeted investments and opportunities, he added.
