Pakistan Parish Signs Agreement With College to Expand Education Access for Christian Youth

A Catholic parish in Punjab province, eastern Pakistan. has signed an agreement with a local college to provide tuition concessions for Christian and other minority students, seeking to expand access to higher secondary education for young people from low-income families.

Urooj-e-Mariam Catholic Church in Chichawatni, a city in Sahiwal District in central Punjab, signed the memorandum of understanding with Punjab College on August 13.

Under the agreement, eligible Christian and minority students will receive a 50 percent tuition fee concession for one year, subject to annual renewal. The concession covers Intermediate-level programs, including pre-medical, pre-engineering, computer science, commerce and arts.

Admission fees and other institutional charges are not included in the concession.

The initiative also provides for the teaching of Ethics as part of the students’ education, with the aim of supporting character formation alongside academic development.

Fr. Peter Shangara, parish priest, signed the agreement on behalf of the parish and the local Christian and minority community. Malik Muhammad Imran, principal of Punjab College, signed on behalf of the institution.

The partnership is supported by the parish council and Prof. Sharoon Pervaiz, a biologist and parish education coordinator.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Fr. Shangara described the agreement as an important step toward expanding educational opportunities for Christian and minority youth.

He expressed appreciation to Punjab College for supporting families who face financial barriers to education and said the initiative could help young people pursue higher education and improve their future prospects.

Principal Imran said quality education should be accessible to deserving students regardless of their background. He also pledged to provide a welcoming and supportive environment for students from the parish.

Prof. Pervaiz called the agreement an opportunity for students to overcome financial barriers to education and urged parents to encourage their children to take advantage of the concession.

The parish is promoting the program through announcements at the main church and its substations, door-to-door outreach, WhatsApp groups and social media.

Local families have welcomed the initiative, which parish leaders hope will encourage more Christian youth to continue their education.

The partnership comes as Christian communities in Pakistan continue to face economic and educational challenges. For the parish, the agreement represents a grassroots effort to make education more accessible and strengthen opportunities for young people from disadvantaged families.