Education is one of the most powerful tools for social and economic mobility, yet for many students in Pakistan, financial constraints stand as a major hurdle. Thankfully, numerous scholarship funding agencies and NGOs across the country are actively working to bridge this gap by providing financial assistance, mentorship and academic support to deserving students. These organizations aim to empower underprivileged youth, promote equal access to education and build a brighter future through their scholarship programs. Statistics indicate that private sources also contribute significantly to scholarships with over 1.8 million awards totaling over $8.2 billion annually. In this thorough article, our Tashheer research team has compiled a list of top 10 scholarship funding agencies and NGOs in Pakistan.

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Top 10 Education-Focused NGOs and Funding Agencies in Pakistan

In this thorough article, our Tashheer research team has compiled a list of the top 10 education-focused NGOs and funding agencies in Pakistan, mentioned as:

Higher Education Commission (HEC) Pakistan

Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan, established on September 11, 2002, is a statutory body under the Government of Pakistan, succeeding the University Grants Commission. Headquartered in Islamabad, HEC is tasked with funding, overseeing, regulating, and accrediting higher education institutions across the country. Its core responsibilities include formulating higher education policies, ensuring quality assurance to meet international standards, accrediting academic degrees, developing new institutions and uplifting existing ones to promote research and development. HEC has been instrumental in promoting a knowledge-based economy by awarding numerous doctoral scholarships for education abroad annually. It offers a wide range of scholarship programs including need-based and merit-based scholarships as well as international scholarships like the Commonwealth Scholarship Program, to support students pursuing higher education both domestically and internationally.

Website:hec.gov.pk

Key Programs

• HEC Need-Based Scholarships
• Overseas Scholarships for MS/MPhil/PhD
• Indigenous PhD Fellowship Program
• Ehsaas Undergraduate Scholarship Program (in collaboration with BISP)

National Endowment Scholarships for Talent (NEST)

The National Endowment Scholarships for Talent (NEST), now operating under the Pakistan Education Endowment Fund (PEEF), is a government-backed initiative aimed at providing financial assistance to academically talented yet financially disadvantaged students across Pakistan. Administered by the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training, NEST offers scholarships for numerous programs including undergraduate degrees in fields such as Islamic Art Architecture and nursing education at BSN, MSN and PhD levels. Eligibility criteria require applicants to be Pakistani nationals enrolled in approved programs, demonstrating financial need and not receiving any other scholarships concurrently. This application process involves submitting necessary documents like admission letters, CNIC and proof of family income through the official NEST website or affiliated university offices. Scholarship recipients must maintain a minimum of 65% marks and 75% attendance; failure to meet these standards, involvement in misconduct or submission of false documents can lead to cancellation of the scholarship.

Website: www.nest.org.pk

Key Programs:

• Arts & Culture Scholarships
• Special Quota Scholarships (Orphans, differently-abled)
• Technical & Vocational Scholarships
• Undergraduate Scholarships     

The Punjab Educational Endowment Fund

The Punjab Educational Endowment Fund (PEEF) is a government initiative launched in 2008 by the Government of Punjab under the leadership of Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif. Established as a non-profit organization, PEEF aims to provide scholarships to talented and financially disadvantaged students across Pakistan with a focus on Punjab. The fund was initiated with a seed money of Rs. 2 billion which has since been increased to Rs. 8 billion with plans to raise it further to Rs. 10 billion. PEEF’s scholarships cover various educational levels including intermediate, graduation, master’s, & Ph.D. programs and are awarded based on merit and need. Special quotas are allocated for orphans, children of government employees in BPS 1-4, minorities, special (disabled) students and children of civilians martyred in terrorist attacks. Since its initiation, PEEF has awarded over 410,000 scholarships worth more than Rs. 2 billion, benefiting students from Punjab and other provinces including Azad Kashmir, FATA, Gilgit-Baltistan and Islamabad Capital Territory. PEEF is registered under Section 42 of the Companies Ordinance, 1984, and is headquartered in Lahore, Pakistan.

Website:peef.org.pk

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Key Programs:

• Merit & Need-Based Scholarships
• Special Quota Scholarships
• Master’s Level Scholarships
• Partner Universities Scholarships

Saylani Welfare International Trust

Saylani is one of Pakistan’s largest NGOs working in education, healthcare and poverty alleviation. Saylani Welfare International Trust, founded in May 1999 by Maulana Bashir Ahmed Farooqui in Karachi, is one of Pakistan’s largest and most influential non-governmental organizations, operating in over 630 locations worldwide. Focused on poverty alleviation and humanitarian aid, Saylani serves around 400,000 individuals daily through over 63 welfare programs. Its core services include daily meal distribution at 850 Dastarkhwan points, free healthcare through hospitals, clinics & mobile units and clean water provision via over 500 RO plants. In education, Saylani supports 400,000 students and runs the Saylani Mass IT Training (SMIT) Program, equipping thousands of youth with tech skills in web development, AI and freelancing. This organization also offers financial support to 2,500 families, arranges monthly mass marriages for 600 couples and provides vocational training, orphan care & disaster relief.

Website: www.saylaniwelfare.com

Key Programs

• Saylani Schooling System Scholarships
• Saylani Mass IT Training (SMIT) Scholarship Program
• Higher Education Support
• Hafiz-e-Quran Scholarships
• Orphan Education Sponsorship Program
• Vocational Training Scholarships

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Aga Khan Foundation

Aga Khan Foundation (AKF), established in 1967 by His Highness the Aga Khan IV, is a private, not-for-profit international development agency committed to addressing the root causes of poverty and improving the quality of life for marginalized communities across Africa, Asia, the Middle East and Europe. Operating in 18 countries including Pakistan, AKF implements integrated, innovative and gender-sensitive programs in seven key areas including agriculture and food security, climate resilience, civil society, early childhood development, education, health and nutrition and work and enterprise. In Pakistan, AKF’s initiatives, often executed through the Aga Khan Rural Support Programme (AKRSP), focus on rural regions like Gilgit-Baltistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Sindh, reaching over 1.6 million people in 2023. The Foundation’s International Scholarship Programme (ISP), launched in 1969, has supported over 1,000 scholars from countries including Pakistan, enabling them to pursue postgraduate education.

Website.akdn.org

Key Programs:

• Aga Khan International Scholarship Programme (ISP)
• In-Country Support through Aga Khan Education Services (AKES)

Taleem Foundation

Taaleem Foundation is a non-profit organization established in 1989 by Dr. Zafar Qadir, aiming to promote positive social change through education in Balochistan, Pakistan. Operating in some of the country’s most remote and underserved areas, the Foundation has set up over 20 schools and vocational institutes including in Kohlu, Loralai, Killa Saifullah, Muslim Bagh, Zhob, Pishin, Mastung and Sui (Dera Bugti). These institutions are managed by local communities through a self-sustaining model that combines tuition fees, charitable donations and donation revenue. Notably, Taaleem Foundation is the largest employer of women in Balochistan’s non-profit sector with all its schools led by female faculty members. The Foundation’s Grammar School System has been instrumental in promoting gender equality in education, increasing female enrollment from 8% in 1990 to 33% by 2020 with a target of 50% by 2030.

Website: taleemfoundation.org

Key Programs:

• Merit-Based Scholarships
• Need-Based Financial Assistance
• Boarding School Admissions Support
• Scholarships for Girls Education
• Partner-Supported Scholarships
• Vocational Training Sponsorships

The Citizens Foundation

The Citizens Foundation (TCF), established in 1995 by a group of concerned Pakistani citizens, is a leading non-profit organization dedicated to providing quality education to underprivileged children across Pakistan. With a network of over 2,033 purpose-built school units, TCF educates more than 301,000 students, maintaining a balanced gender ratio by employing an all-female faculty of over 12,000 teachers and principals. This organization focuses on holistic education, offering customized textbooks, in-depth teacher training and strong quality assurance programs. Beyond formal education, TCF runs community development initiatives such as the Aagahi adult literacy program, vocational training centers and water filtration projects. Their Government Schools Program, initiated in 2016, has improved enrollment and academic performance in adopted public schools. TCF’s efforts have been recognized internationally, earning accolades like the UNESCO Confucius Prize for Literacy and the Ramon Magsaysay Award.

Website: www.tcf.org.pk

Key Programs:

• TCF-College Scholarship Program
• TCF-Partner University Scholarship Program
• Engro Scholarship for TCF Alumni
• Sapphire Scholarship Program
• The Imkaan Trust – TCF Higher Education Scholarship
• Mian Muhammad Sharif IT Scholarship
• Alumni Development Program (ADP)

Pakistan Bait-ul-Mal (PBM)

Pakistan Bait-ul-Mal (PBM) is an autonomous charitable organization established in 1992 under the Pakistan Bait-ul-Mal Act of 1991. Operating under the Prime Minister’s Secretariat, PBM aims to alleviate poverty and provide social welfare services across Pakistan. Its funding sources include the Central Zakat Fund and federal government allocations. PBM’s programs focus on supporting widows, orphans, the disabled, students and the elderly, offering financial aid such as Rs 25,000 per household with more than one disabled person. This organization also provides educational assistance to deserving students of government schools, colleges and universities. PBM operates twelve “Sweet Homes” that function as both residences and schools for orphans, located in various cities including Attock, Kohat, Mansehra, Mardan, Swat, Dipalpur, Gujrat, Sargodha, Karachi, Nawabshah, Quetta and Zhob. In addition to these services, PBM has been involved in providing help to internally displaced persons during military operations and has approved the creation of senior care homes known as Ehsaas Kadaa.

Website: www.pbm.gov.pk

Key Programs

• Educational Assistance for Deserving Students
• Support for Orphans’ Education (PBM Sweet Homes)
• Special Quota Scholarships for Disabled Students
• Stipends for Vocational & Technical Training
• One-Time Financial Aid for Emergency Educational Needs

Khushal Pakistan Organization

Khushal Pakistan Society, established in 2019 and registered under the Voluntary Social Welfare Organizations (Registration & Control) Ordinance 1961, is a non-governmental organization headquartered in Islamabad. Operating under the motto of transforming Pakistan by assisting its underprivileged population, the society focuses on providing food to the hungry and education to underprivileged children particularly those affected by forced labor, beggary, sexual abuse and human trafficking. Its thematic areas include education, disaster relief and economic empowerment with service delivery as its primary mode of operation. This organization actively participates in youth development initiatives, exemplified by its role as a media partner in events like the “Pakistan Youth Vision 2030” conference.

Website: khushalpakistan.org

Key Programs:

• Girls’ Education Sponsorships
• Tuition and Book Grants

Edhi Foundation

The Edhi Foundation, established in 1951 by the late Abdul Sattar Edhi, stands as Pakistan’s largest and most comprehensive non-profit welfare organization. Headquartered in Karachi, the foundation operates over 330 centers nationwide, providing numerous of services including free medical care, orphanages, rehabilitation centers and vocational training programs. Its educational initiatives include primary and secondary schools in Karachi, Nawabshah and Mirpur Khas, offering quality education to underprivileged children. This foundation also runs the Edhi Institute of Science & Technology which offers diploma courses in fields such as auto mechanics, generator maintenance and information technology, aiming to equip individuals with practical skills for employment. In 2017, the Edhi Foundation partnered with the Professional Education Foundation to launch the PEF-Edhi Scholarship, providing financial assistance to deserving students pursuing professional education.

Website: edhi.org

Key Programs

• Edhi CA Talent Program
• Support for Orphans’ Education
• PEF-Edhi Scholarship

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