Decades of conflict and under-governance left educational infrastructure severely damaged; among Pakistan's lowest university enrollment rates
The seven former FATA agencies — South Waziristan, North Waziristan, Khyber, Kurram, Orakzai, Bajaur, and Mohmand — were merged into KPK in 2018, but decades of conflict and under-governance left a profound gap in educational infrastructure. Literacy rates in some areas fall below 30%. Functional secondary schools are limited, and the number of young people who complete FSc in these districts and pursue higher education remains very small relative to the population.
The federal and KPK provincial governments have created specific quotas and scholarships for students from the merged districts. Federal universities including NUST, QAU, and COMSATS reserve seats for FATA/merged district students with merit thresholds significantly lower than open merit. The KPK Government Scholarship specifically includes the merged districts. These quotas exist because policymakers recognise the scale of the gap — but many eligible students do not know about them.
Students who do complete FSc from the merged districts and seek higher education face an application ecosystem entirely unfamiliar to their families. Navigating SAT registration, personal statements, or financial aid forms without any local guidance network requires either extraordinary individual effort or access to an organisation like Daakhla.
Full scholarship — tuition, accommodation, and monthly stipend
Up to Rs 40,000 per semester (tuition support)
Full tuition at public universities; partial at private
Full tuition reimbursement at public-sector universities
Up to 100% tuition waiver based on financial need
You qualify for FATA/merged district quota seats at federal universities — NUST, QAU, COMSATS, and others. These quotas have lower merit thresholds than open merit, meaning your NET or FSc score may be sufficient even if it would not be competitive in the open merit category. Contact each university's admissions office directly and ask specifically about FATA/merged district quota availability for the programmes you want. Apply for the KPK Government Scholarship at the same time as your university applications.
Daakhla is just beginning its work and has not yet guided a student from the merged districts. The quota seats reserved for former-FATA students at NUST, QAU, and COMSATS are real and underused — and you could be among the first students we help claim them.
Free admissions counselling and SAT preparation for students from Pakistan’s underserved districts. Rs 10,000 for both programmes — full financial aid for those who need it.
Apply for free counselling →