Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) is one of the major academic centers in the country. Thousands of students are currently enrolled with the university with this number increasing every day. In order to facilitate the students owing to corona virus, AIOU has announced its new financial assistance policy. As per university’s newly launched policy, AIOU will provide financial assistance to poor, physically challenged people, prisoners, transgenders and children of martyrs. This policy has been launched for the admissions of Autumn semester of 2020. The future of these classes shall be discussed at a later stage that whether there will be any physical classes or continue through online teaching but admissions are now open.

 

A decent enough amount has already been allocated to the Financial Assistance Fund of the university so that needy students can be facilitated. This practice is followed every year for uplifting the under privileged people of the society. But this year, it is being enhanced in comparison to all previous years for increasing the scope of financial assistance owing to the economic and financial crisis caused by the deadly virus across the world. Vice Chancellor of the university said that AIOU is aimed at social and economic development of society and they will continue to work on it. Director of Students Advisory and Counseling, Rana Muhammad Tariq Javed said that all of the students as mentioned above can apply for the financial assistance by obtaining a form for fee concession from Regional Offices of AIOU.

 

Nevertheless, the form can also be downloaded from the website of AIOU and detailed information regarding the financial assistance can also be acquired through the official website. Afterwards, the form can be filled accordingly as per the category of applicant. Furthermore, this facility has also been made available for the existing students. Those students who are studying currently shall fill in the forms in the same manner as new students would be required and then submit their forms to their respective regional offices. However, a cut-off date for existing and new students has been determined by the university. Existing students can submit their forms to their respective regional offices not later than 24^th August, 2020 and new students shall apply for fee concession by 31^st August, 2020.