Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on Thursday hailed five outstanding students from Sindh who secured fully funded postgraduate scholarships to the University of Oxford under the Bhutto STEM Scholarship Programme, describing them as future leaders, researchers and innovators who would help shape the future of the province and the country.
Addressing a felicitation ceremony at the CM House, he said the Sindh government firmly believed that education was the strongest catalyst for social transformation and economic progress. “Every investment made in the education of our youth is an investment in the future of Sindh. These scholars represent the aspirations, talent and resilience of our young generation,” he said.
The ceremony, organised by the college education department, was attended by Education Minister Syed Sardar Ali Shah, Culture Minister Syed Zulfiqar Ali Shah, Minister for Boards and Universities Ismail Rahu, Special Assistant to the Chief Minister Rajvir Singh Sodha, senior government officials, representatives of the University of Oxford and the Oxford Pakistan Programme (OPP), parents, faculty members and students.
The five scholars selected for the academic year 2026-27 are Faiza Rehman (MSc Economics for Development), Amarta Chandio (MSc Clinical Embryology), Nir Mussawwir Ali (MSc Economics for Development), Furjad Shahid Hassan (DPhil Zero-Carbon Energy Research) and Junaid Ahmed Memon (DPhil Engineering Science).
Congratulating the students, Murad said their admission to the Oxford University was a remarkable achievement earned through merit, perseverance and academic excellence. “You are ambassadors of Sindh and Pakistan. Your success sends a powerful message to young people across our province that no dream is beyond reach when talent is matched with hard work and opportunity,” he said.
The CM said the Bhutto STEM Scholarship Programme, a flagship initiative envisioned by Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, was launched through a partnership between the Sindh government and Oxford Pakistan Programme to provide talented students with access to world-class higher education.
He said the initiative reflected the vision of PPP founder Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and his daughter Benazir Bhutto who championed education as a tool for empowerment, opportunity and social justice.
“Through this initiative, we are not merely funding degrees; we are nurturing future economists, scientists, engineers, researchers and policymakers who will contribute to solving the challenges of our time and drive sustainable development,” he said.
The CM also appreciated the Oxford Pakistan Programme and the University of Oxford for ensuring a transparent, merit-based selection process. Urging the scholars to make the most of the opportunity, he said their achievements belonged not only to them and their families but also to the entire province. “We look forward to seeing you become leaders in your professions and contribute to building a stronger, more prosperous and more inclusive society,” he added.
Addressing the gathering, the education minister described the scholarships as a landmark investment in Sindh’s youth and a major step towards building a knowledge-based future. He noted that the Oxford University held a special place in the history of the Bhutto family with Bhutto, Benazir and Bilawal all having studied there.
Sardar said the Sindh government had allocated Rs500 million annually for scholarships supporting students pursuing master’s, MPhil and DPhil studies, including dedicated opportunities in STEM disciplines. He added that through the Sindh Education Endowment Fund (SEEF), 42,719 meritorious and deserving students had so far received support worth Rs6.916 billion to pursue higher education at 92 universities and institutions across Pakistan.
Dr Jamal Pirzada of the University of Oxford praised the Sindh government for transforming the scholarship initiative into a successful programme. He said the Oxford Pakistan Programme was launched six years ago but initially faced funding constraints but the Sindh government played a historic role in making the initiative successful by supporting some of the brightest students from the province, he said.
“When these students arrive at Oxford, they will become part of a rich tradition of academic excellence and leadership,” he said. Earlier, Sindh College Education Secretary Nadeem Memon welcomed the CM and Oxford delegation and briefed the audience on the transparent and merit-based process through which the scholars were selected. The CM also presented shields and souvenirs to the Oxford delegation and the successful scholars.
