Pakistan State Oil Continues Support to the National Outreach Programme
A long-standing benefactor of LUMS, Pakistan State Oil Company (PSO) has again come forward to provide support for 10 National Outreach Programme students from Baluchistan, KPK, FATA, Interior Sindh and Gilgit Baltistan regions. Mr. Mian Shakeel Ahmad, Business Manager Retail, PSO visited LUMS on March 17, 2021 to make the donation of PKR 10 million on behalf of the organisation.
The NOP is LUMS’ signature recruitment initiative and offers 130% scholarship annually to one out of ten students from remote and underprivileged areas across Pakistan. Since its inception in 2001, it has covered tuition, books, living stipends, and lodging for 1,272 students. These scholars were recruited from 136 cities, towns and villages through the Programme.
A ceremony was held at the campus amidst strict SOPs, where Mr. Shakeel handed over the donation cheque. He manages a team of professionals who oversee all the aspects of retail stations/petrol pumps across Lahore, Sheikhupura, Kasur and Nankana Districts. He said: “PSO is a national company and wishes to support national causes for the betterment of the country. We are honored to be a part of this partnership with LUMS, which will be an ongoing process.”
Dr. Arshad Ahmad, Vice Chancellor LUMS, thanked PSO for their support to the NOP. “PSO is one of the most visible companies in Pakistan, and LUMS is very proud to be associated with companies that take their CSR very seriously, especially when it’s directed towards changing other people’s lives. When a company like PSO steps up, we feel we are doing something right. People believe in LUMS because the support or money given to the National Outreach Programme goes directly to these students.”
He also invited the senior management of PSO for a campus tour to witness the developments at LUMS.
PSO has a rich partnership history with LUMS. During the past two years, PSO CSR Trust donated PKR 15 million for the sponsorship of 10 NOP students from Balochistan, KPK, FATA, Interior Sindh and Gilgit Baltistan. A donation of PKR 10 million in the form of an endowment in 2005, was also provided to promote research in the field of science and technology.