In a landmark initiative to support higher education, Haier has pledged Rs. 5.9 million in scholarships for students at the University of Karachi (UoK). The funding, formalized through a newly signed agreement, will benefit students across five departments of the university.
The announcement was made at a signing ceremony attended by UoK Vice Chancellor Dr Khalid Iraqi, who drew attention to the severe financial and structural challenges facing Pakistan’s higher education sector.
Dr Iraqi revealed that only two percent of the country’s student population is able to access universities, citing economic barriers as the key obstacle. “Widespread unemployment means many parents simply cannot afford to educate their children,” he said, stressing that stagnant industrial growth and insufficient government funding have further deepened the crisis.
He called for collective action from both government and private stakeholders to ensure that deserving students are not deprived of opportunities.
Despite these difficulties, UoK has taken proactive steps to mobilize resources for its students. The university has launched department-specific scholarships funded by alumni and remains the only institution in Pakistan to operate a dedicated Student Admission Fund. Last year alone, this fund allocated Rs. 10 million to support academically qualified students struggling with financial constraints.
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Dr Iraqi praised the new scholarship agreement as a critical step toward easing the financial burden on students and reinforcing KU’s mission to expand access to higher education.