WASHINGTON: A powerful congressional panel approved a proposal on Monday to increase the number of US scholarships available to women in Pakistan.

The proposed legislation, named after Malala Yousafzai, now goes for a vote by the full House of Representatives.

“I proudly voted for the proposed legislation,” said Congressman Grace Meng, a New York Democrat who is also a co-sponsor of the Malala Yousafzai Act.

The act seeks to expand the number of college scholarships for economically disadvantaged students from rural areas of Pakistan.

The vote took place during consideration of the measure by the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

It was approved by a voice vote.

The legislation requires an increase in the number of scholarships for women, and aims to award 50 per cent of them to females.

The legislation is named after a Pakistani teen from the Swat Valley who was shot in the head by the Taliban for opposing the Taliban's ban on education for females. After her recovery, she became an activist for women's education.

“I am extremely pleased to support this important programme and I look forward to the legislation being passed soon by the House,” said Representative Meng.

“Everybody should have the opportunity to pursue a college education free from the fear of discrimination and violence, and this programme will help many students from Pakistan, especially Pakistani women, achieve that critical goal.”

The scholarships are administered by US Agency for International Development through the Merit and Needs-Based Scholarship Programme.

Opinion

Editorial

Short-changed?
Updated 24 Nov, 2024

Short-changed?

As nations continue to argue, the international community must recognise that climate finance is not merely about numbers.
Overblown ‘threat’
24 Nov, 2024

Overblown ‘threat’

ON the eve of the PTI’s ‘do or die’ protest in the federal capital, there seemed to be little evidence of the...
Exclusive politics
24 Nov, 2024

Exclusive politics

THERE has been a gradual erasure of the voices of most marginalised groups from Pakistan’s mainstream political...
Counterterrorism plan
Updated 23 Nov, 2024

Counterterrorism plan

Lacunae in our counterterrorism efforts need to be plugged quickly.
Bullish stock market
23 Nov, 2024

Bullish stock market

NORMALLY, stock markets rise gradually. In recent months, however, Pakistan’s stock market has soared to one ...
Political misstep
Updated 23 Nov, 2024

Political misstep

To drag a critical ally like Saudi Arabia into unfounded conspiracies is detrimental to Pakistan’s foreign policy.