Feasibility study for varsity at PM House to cost Rs200m

Federal Minister for Planning and Development Asad Umar directs MoST to expedite the establishment

ISLAMABAD: A university, planned to be set up at the sprawling Prime Minister House, will cost Rs200 million just to complete its feasibility study. The government has been told.

During a meeting to review progress on the move, part of Prime Minister Imran Khan’s electoral promises, it was disclosed that the varsity will have three centres of excellence along with eight innovation and technology development incubation centres.

Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Asad Umar chaired the meeting and directed the Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST) to expedite the establishment of a university at the Prime Minister House.

“There should be no delay in the establishment of the university at the PM House in Islamabad,” Umar told the meeting. He asked MoST to form a special committee to ensure that the university focuses on technologies which can support the manufacturing industry of Pakistan.

Umar noted that the manufacturing sector in Pakistan needs to be supported through the latest technologies in order to make them competitive in the world.

Science and Technology Minister Fawad Chaudhry, Pakistan Science and Technology Task Force Chairman Dr Attaur Rehman, Member Science and Technology Dr Hussain Abidi and senior officials from HEC participated in the meeting.  

Published in The Express Tribune, February 21^st, 2020.