Minister of Higher Education Dr Ali Haidar Ahmed has said that more than 75 per cent of government funds allocated for students pursuing higher education abroad are disbursed within the required time.

Speaking on a podcast hosted by President’s Office Spokesperson Heena Waleed, the minister acknowledged complaints from some students studying overseas about delays in receiving funds. However, he said official statistics show that over 75 per cent of students receive their payments on schedule.

Minister Dr Haidar said delays of several weeks can occur in some cases due to verification requirements under the current policy. Before funds are released, the ministry must confirm that the student is enrolled at the institution and that the information submitted is accurate. If one or both of these checks face issues, the release of funds can be delayed.

He added that the ministry begins the process for issuing loans and other assistance programmes two months before the deadline. Students are also required to submit correct bank details, including account number, IBAN and SWIFT code.

The minister said discrepancies in submitted information can result in the Finance Ministry returning the funds, requiring the details to be rechecked. This, he noted, is one of the main reasons for delays in disbursement.