LONDON: The Pakistan High Commission in the British capital launched the Oxford Pakistan Programme in a bid to facilitate Pakistani students.
The initiative, introduced by two alumni Haroon Zaman and Talha Pirzada of the oldest university in the English-speaking world, includes scholarships for graduation, visiting fellowships, other than the special lectures on eastern philosophy.
The programme, launched on September 30, was launched at a high-profile event in London at Pakistan’s embassy. It will offer Pakistani students to study at Oxford while Pakistanis residing in Britain have committed around half a million Pounds other than the future assistance.
The academic head of the project Adeel Malik, speaking at the programme launch in London, expressed displeasure saying the South Asian country still studied and represented through the lens of radicalization and militarism in the world.
Delighted to announce the launch of Oxford Pakistan Programme (OPP), a major new initiative on education and public diplomacy at @UniofOxford
OPP will generate scholarship opportunities for Pakistani students & consolidate Pakistan-related academic activities @oxfordgiving pic.twitter.com/sy5FOqNmXz
— Adeel Malik (@AdeelMalikOx) October 3, 2021
Malik also shared the development of announcing a fresh research initiative on “National Sovereignty and Development” at the varsity while the project will be named after Mohammad Ali Jauhar – a Muslim activist, and a poet from the Indian subcontinent.
Meanwhile, British top diplomat and High Commissioner to Pakistan Christian Turner termed the initiative as a landmark in strengthening academic linkages between the two sides. “Around 1.6 million British Pakistani communities is a living bridge between the UK and Pakistan”, he said
Oxford Professor Adeel Malik, Dr Talha J. Pirzada, Lecturer in Aerospace Materials and Haroon Zaman, Trainee Lawyer at Travers Smith, London are said to be key contributors to the programme. They were assisted in this effort by Oxford alumni Minahil Saqib and Dr Mohsin Javed, per reports.
LUMS founder and famous Pakistani businessman turned philanthropist Syed Babar Ali said the programme is a ‘historic effort’, the first of its kind, which is capable to unlock incommensurate opportunities for Pakistani scholars.
Pakistan’s young noble laureate Malala Yousufzai, who advocates education for Pakistani women, also announced a new scholarship that will allow one Pakistani girl from an underdeveloped background to study at the fifth-best varsity in the world.
Nobel Peace Prize Winner @Malala speaks at Pakistan High Commission London as part of Oxford University Pakistan student delegation pic.twitter.com/13lrgFIivl
— Murtaza Ali Shah (@MurtazaViews) October 1, 2021
Meanwhile, other members attending the ceremony recalled the historic connection between Pakistan and Oxford, and the offerings of several famous members including Liaquat Ali Khan, Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, Benazir Bhutto, and incumbent PM Imran Khan.
Chairman NADRA and former Chief Technical Advisor of UNDP Tariq Malik also attended the event and expressed interest in fostering research collaboration with Oxford Pakistan Programme.
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