Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s government has announced a major decision to utilize £190 million (Rs54 billion) for constructing a public sector university and several schools. These funds, originally frozen by the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA), were at the center of former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s conviction. The money will now be used to establish the Daanish University of Emerging Technologies in Islamabad and Daanish schools in remote, impoverished areas of Pakistan.
Imran Khan’s previous government had adjusted these funds to settle private liabilities, a move that eventually led to his 14-year conviction in the Al-Qadir Trust case. In contrast, Shehbaz Sharif’s government, with approval from the Supreme Court of Pakistan, aims to use these funds for educational purposes, focusing on emerging technologies to prepare future generations for modern challenges.
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The Daanish Schools Initiative, launched by Shehbaz Sharif in 2010, will expand to underserved regions, offering educational opportunities to children from the poorest families. A special committee, led by Ahsan Iqbal, has been formed to oversee the development of the university and select schools, ensuring the proper use of funds for long-term sustainability.
This initiative reflects the government’s commitment to addressing education inequality and promoting research in key technological fields, setting a foundation for national development.
