The Government College University Lahore Endowment Fund Trust has received a donation of Rs3 million from the Sehbai family to establish three permanent ‘Golden Scholarships’ aimed at supporting deserving students from low-income backgrounds.

The endowment was formalized during a ceremony at the Vice Chancellor’s office, where Muneeza Umar presented the cheque to Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Muhammad Omer Chaudhry. The event was attended by veteran actress Samina Ahmad, Registrar Dr. Shaukat Ali, Treasurer Muhammad Sarwar Khan, and Chairperson of the Urdu Department Prof. Dr. Saima Iram.

The scholarship program, titled the “Mr. Manzar Sehbai, Mr. Asar Sehbai, and Mr. Sarmad Sehbai Golden Scholarships,” is dedicated to three distinct academic disciplines: BS Media Studies, BS Philosophy, and M.Phil. Urdu.

Speaking on the occasion, Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Muhammad Omer Chaudhry expressed his gratitude to the donors, noting that a single scholarship has the potential to transform a student’s life and uplift an entire family through education. He directed that the funds be formally incorporated into the GCU Endowment Fund Trust (EFT) to ensure a consistent, merit-based annual support system.

The Vice Chancellor further noted that the initiative honors the legacy of the Sehbai family, whose members are prominent figures in Pakistan’s literary and artistic circles. Manzar Sehbai is an acclaimed actor, while the late Asar Sehbai and Sarmad Sehbai are distinguished for their contributions to Urdu poetry, drama, and film.

A spokesperson for the GCU EFT added that the scholarships are strictly need-based, targeting students from low-income families. To maintain transparency, a high-level selection committee will conduct interviews to shortlist the most deserving candidates.