Trump Signs Malala Education Act Into Law

In his last week in the White House, US President Donald Trump signed an act that would award at least a 50% scholarship to Pakistani women who wish to complete higher education in the US.

The act is called "Malala Yousufazai Scholarship Act," reports The Dawn.

Earlier this month, the US Congress passed the proposed law and sent it to the White House for the president to sign.

"On 13 January, the President signed into law the Malala Yousafzai Scholarship Act, which directs the US Agency for International Development (USAID) to award at least 50% of Merit and Needs-Based Scholarship Programme scholarships to Pakistani women," said a statement issued by the White House.

The bill was first passed in March 2020 by the House of Representatives and later by a voice vote on 1 January by the US Senate.

Pakistani women will be eligible for the scholarship from 2020 to 2022.

The scholarships will be available in a number of academic fields and in compliance with current eligibility criteria.

The bill also requires USAID to consult with and leverage investments by the Pakistani private sector and Pakistani diaspora in the United States to improve and expand access to education programmes in Pakistan.