Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif announced the establishment of the Daanish University of Applied and Emerging Sciences in Islamabad, utilizing £190 million returned by the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA) and transferred from the Supreme Court of Pakistan to the federal government’s account.
Chairing the Steering Committee meeting, the Prime Minister expressed gratitude to the Chief Justice of Pakistan for ensuring the smooth transfer of funds. He emphasized that the university would provide high-quality research-based education to deserving students and directed the swift completion of legal formalities for land acquisition in Sector H-16, Islamabad.
The university will be designed as a technical and applied sciences institution of international standards. PM Shehbaz instructed that the campus architecture should be simple, using red bricks to reduce costs. He also stressed the importance of recruiting highly qualified faculty and equipping the university with cutting-edge technology and research facilities.
Additionally, a committee will be formed to appoint the Vice-Chancellor and Board of Trustees. Daanish University will operate under the Daanish Trust to ensure financial independence and minimal government intervention. It will be registered as a Section 42 company, with all legal formalities expected to be completed soon.
The government also plans to establish Daanish Schools in Shigar, Gilgit, Bagh, Neelum Valley (AJK), and underprivileged areas of Karachi.
The meeting was attended by key ministers, including Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, Economic Affairs Minister Ahad Khan Cheema, Education Minister Dr. Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, and Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, along with senior government officials.
