Karachi: Bank Alfalah, in partnership with the Centre for Excellence in Journalism (CEJ) at the Institute of Business Administration (IBA), Karachi, announced a new scholarship initiative for students and content creators focused on journalism and financial literacy. This collaboration includes scholarships for a Master’s program in journalism and workshops aimed at enhancing the skills of online content creators.

According to Bank Alfalah, the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the bank and CEJ-IBA will fund scholarships for five students pursuing the Master of Science in Journalism (MSJ) degree at IBA for the academic year 2024-25. Additionally, twelve online content creators will receive training to improve public understanding of financial literacy. This initiative seeks to equip a new generation of journalists with the necessary skills to effectively report on financial matters and increase public engagement through informed content.

Dr. Asma Hyder, Professor and Dean at IBA’s School of Economics and Social Sciences, emphasized the importance of journalism in strengthening democracy and informed societies. The program at IBA aims to train students with the latest in reporting, fact-checking, and ethical journalism, supported by experienced faculty and professional journalists. Meanwhile, Taimoor Ahmed, Acting Head of CEJ, expressed gratitude towards Bank Alfalah for their support, which he deemed essential for empowering aspiring journalists.

Madiha Javed Qureshi, Head of Corporate Communication at Bank Alfalah, highlighted the alignment of this initiative with the bank’s goal to nurture skilled professionals and contribute to Pakistan’s financial health. She stressed the role of these scholarships and workshops in promoting responsible financial practices and enhancing public financial literacy.