Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: A new annual scholarship honouring the legacy of the late lawyer and activist Asma Jehangir was announced on Thursday by the British High Commission.

This scholarship will be awarded to the best female Chevening candidate each year, following the scheme’s rigorous selection process.

Chevening Scholarships are awarded to outstanding emerging leaders to pursue a one-year Masters programme at any UK university. The scholarship programme provides a unique opportunity to future leaders, influencers and decisionmakers from all over the world to develop professionally and academically, to build networks, to experience UK culture and to form lasting positive relationships with the UK. In 2017, Chevening sent 63 Pakistanis to universities across the UK – including 23 women.

The recipient of the inaugural award will be announced in August when the 2018 Chevening Scholars have been selected.

Announcing the new scholarship, the British High Commissioner Thomas Drew said, “I am delighted to announce that Asma Jehangir’s family has agreed to the creation of a scholarship in her name as part of our prestigious Chevening Programme. It is particularly appropriate to be able to announce the award, which will each year go to the top female Chevening candidate, on International Women’s Day. For decades, Asma Jehangir was a courageous defender of Pakistan’s most vulnerable citizens. She was also a powerful advocate for the rights of women. This scholarship honours her achievements. Women across Pakistan, as they are around the world, are underrepresented in politics, in leadership positions and across society. We hope that this scholarship inspires future generations of Pakistani women by giving them a platform to realise their potential – helping in turn realise the great potential of their country. As the founder of the country, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, said, ‘No nation can rise to the height of glory unless your women are side by side with you’.”

Speaking about the announcement, Asma Jehangir’s daughter Sulema Jehangir said, “Asma Jehangir believed passionately in the importance of higher education. We welcome the British High Commission’s naming of one of its Chevening Scholarships as a fitting tribute to our mother and her life time’s work.”

The Chevening alumni consists of over 1,600 alumni which includes senior journalists, civil servants, professionals, politicians and members of society from all walks of life.

Published in Daily Times, March 9^th 2018.