BANGKOK, Thailand. August 29/TheNation/ — In a groundbreaking development, the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) has welcomed 30 women scholars from Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, marking a significant step forward in the region’s educational and social progress. These outstanding women have been awarded fully funded master’s scholarships under the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Cities Improvement Project (KPCIP), an initiative backed by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to enhance urban infrastructure and service delivery.
The scholarships were formalized through a Memorandum of Agreement signed on May 3, 2024, between AIT and KPCIP. This partnership underscores a strong commitment to gender equality and the empowerment of women in a region where such opportunities have historically been limited.
The scholars arrived at AIT on August 10, and were later welcomed by Pakistan’s Ambassador to Thailand, Rukhsana Afzaal, during Pakistan’s 77th Independence Day celebration on August 14 in Bangkok. Ambassador Afzaal praised the scholars’ achievements and emphasized the crucial role of education in empowering women and advancing society. She highlighted that educated women have a profound impact on their families, communities, and economies.
Selected from over 4,000 applicants, these scholars are now pursuing advanced studies in critical fields aligned with KPCIP’s Gender Action Plan, including Construction Engineering, Water Management, Data Science, and Climate Change, among others. Their education is expected to make a significant impact on sustainable development in Pakistan.
AIT’s Acting President, Prof. Nitin Kumar Tripathi, called the program a key component of global efforts to promote gender equality and academic excellence. Similarly, Dawood Khan, Secretary of the Local Government Elections and Rural Development Department, emphasized the importance of AIT’s multicultural environment in preparing these scholars for leadership roles.
The arrival of these scholars is more than an academic milestone; it represents a broader movement towards gender equality and empowerment in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and beyond. AIT and KPCIP officials are dedicated to ensuring the program’s success as a model for future initiatives aimed at empowering women through education.
