Latest news with #Daanish
Express Tribune
03-07-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
CDWP clears six Daanish schools
The Central Development Working Party (CDWP) on Thursday approved the establishment of six Daanish schools in Balochistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), at a cost of Rs19.253 billion, in line with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's initiative to provide quality education system to far-flung areas. The Planning Ministry said in a statement that these schools would be built under the formula of 50:50 cost-sharing by the federal government and the respective provincial governments. "These schools aim to uplift the most marginalised segments of society by providing access to quality education," it said. According to the statement, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal chaired the meeting, attended by Planning Secretary Awais Manzur Sumra, chief economist and the members of the Planning Commission (PC) and senior representatives from relevant federal ministries and provincial governments. These schools would be established in Balochistan's Kan Mehtarzai, costing Rs2,929.856 million; Sibi, costing Rs3,351.987 million; Baiker, Dera Bugti district, costing Rs2,665.733 million; Musakhel, costing Rs3,630.771 million; and Zhob, costing Rs3,632.405 million. The sixth approved Daanish schools would be established in AJK, costing Rs3,042.778 million. All these projects were cleated at the CDWP level, the Planning Minister stated in the statement. The Daanish Schools network is the largest system of free boarding schools for boys and girls in Pakistan, with a view to uplifting the most marginalised segments of the society by providing them access to the quality education. The Punjab government had earlier established a wide network of the Daanish schools, but now the other provinces are also taking steps to replicate this model to support talented students from underprivileged backgrounds. "The establishment of these schools represents a major step forward in addressing challenges faced by the education sector, especially in less developed areas," the ministry said. "The federal government also plans to establish new Daanish Schools in underserved districts," it added. "The initiative aims to empower youth, build stronger communities, and help create a more inclusive and equitable society. These schools will move beyond traditional rote learning, and promote 21st-century education models by integrating technology to improve delivery and track student progress." Speaking during the CDWP meeting, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal stated that more than 25 million children in Pakistan were currently out of school, which was a matter of serious national concern. He stressed that raising the literacy rate to 90% was essential for the country's development.
Express Tribune
16-03-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Daanish varsity to carve a niche: PM
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday said that establishment of Daanish University in Islamabad would not only become a model in the country but would also carve a niche among the world's top educational centers on the basis of quality education, research and development in applied sciences. Addressing a ceremony at the site review of Daanish University of Emerging Sciences at Sector H-16, the prime minister said that it was a moment of joy for everyone as a piece of land measuring 100 acres was allocated for the establishment of Daanish University. The prime minister said that no doubt, the country had good educational centers spread across in different provinces, but as far as he remembered, there was no proper research and development educational center dedicated to the modern applied sciences. He expressed the hope that Daanish University could be equal to world-renowned educational institutions like Stanford, Oxford, MIIT and others, adding that on Aug 14, 2026, the first section of the university would be operationalized. He further informed that the government would have no relation with its functions and administration as it would work autonomously like the PKLI where legislation was made in this regard. PKLI was now functioning in the best way in the healthcare sector. Students from all over the country would get enrollment in different faculties of the university purely on merit. A Trust would be created and initially, the government would provide Rs10 billion as seed money and later, it would run on the amount collected from fees of wealthy students while the poor students would be assisted. The ceremony was attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, ministers, parliamentarians, experts and relevant authorities. The prime minister said that names of the board of governors of Daanish University had been finalised so that the brilliant minds could contribute. The campus would be constructed with red facade which would have all the allied facilities, he added. About functioning of the Daanish schools across Punjab province, he said a large number of orphans and poor students were getting education there. The centers, equipped with free education, smart boards, IT laps, dormitories etc., were providing all facilities to the students from backward areas, he added. He also appreciated teachers who left their well-paid jobs to teach students in far-flung areas at Daanish schools.
Express Tribune
10-03-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
£190 million NCA funds to support education
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's government has decided to use £190 million or Rs54 billion for building a public sector university and schools, which were originally given to Pakistan by the United Kingdom's National Crime Agency (NCA). This money became a key element in the conviction of former premier Imran Khan. The government has chosen to use these frozen funds for the noble cause of providing education in emerging technologies. The government of Imran Khan had earlier adjusted the Rs54 billion against private liabilities, a decision that led to his 14-year conviction in the high-profile Al-Qadir Trust case. The government sources told The Express Tribune that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has approved the use of the funds for education purposes, and the Supreme Court of Pakistan, which is the custodian of the funds, has also given its consent. According to the government's decision, the £190 million will be allocated for the construction of the Daanish University of Emerging Technologies in Islamabad, as well as Daanish schools in the country's poorest and most remote areas. The Daanish Schools Initiative was launched by Shehbaz Sharif in 2010 in Punjab to provide modern education and recreational facilities to children from under-privileged families. After the 18th Constitutional Amendment, education is a provincial subject but the federal government has decided to construct these Daanish schools in the backward areas. The eligibility criteria for admission to Daanish Schools require that either the student's parents are deceased or the family is among the poorest, as per the Benazir Income Support Card registry. Seats are equally distributed between boys and girls, provided they meet the admission criteria. The funds will be used for establishing the "state of the art research university with an endowment to [ensure] self-sustainability and the balance amount [will be allocated to build] a few Daanish Schools in the backward areas," said Ahsan Iqbal, Federal Minister for Planning while confirming the development. The prime minister has made Ahsan Iqbal head of a 10-member expert committee, which will finalise the lists of schools and programmes in emerging technologies. In 2019, the NCA of the United Kingdom reached a settlement deal worth £190 million. The £190 million or Rs54 billion had not gone back to the federal government at that time. Instead, the money had been transferred directly into the account of the Supreme Court. This year the accountability court convicted Imran Khan for 14 years and his wife Bushra Bibi for seven years in the Al-Qadir Trust case. Soon after the verdict, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar had said that the money recovered by the NCA would be used for the nation's welfare. The Supreme Court registrar was the head operator of the designated account, which is being changed to take control of these funds, said the government sources. The funds will not be spent through the Public Sector Development Programme. Instead a special purpose vehicle will be set up to make sure that these funds do not lapse at the end of the fiscal year and remain available for education purposes. The prime minister has also instructed to form an independent oversight committee to ensure transparency in the utilisation of these funds, said the sources. Shehbaz Sharif will head the 11-member steering committee. Its members are Minister for Planning, Minister for Economic Affairs, Minister for Law, Minister for Federal Education, Chairman Higher Education Commission, Secretary Information Technology, Secretary Finance, Secretary Education, Secretary Planning and Chairman of the Capital Development Authority. The oversight committee will give strategic guidelines and define the university's mission, vision and objectives. It will also supervise the infrastructure development including the land availability by the CDA and will approve the governance model. The PM-led committee will also oversee the legislation for the establishment of the university and monitor its construction within 18 months, said the sources. The Ahsan Iqbal-led expert committee comprises economists and educationists and will finalise the lists of schools and programmes in emerging technologies. The expert committee will provide the roadmap for academic programmes, shortlist the research priorities and ensure collaboration with international centres of excellence for exchange programmes. The sources said the university will operate as a Trust with operational independence. A 20-bed hospital will also be part of the Daanish University, according to the Prime Minister's decision. The planning ministry has also been instructed to ensure timely approvals of the PC-Is of the Daanish schools.
