Daanish varsity to carve a niche: PM

Shehbaz chairs meeting on site review of university

ISLAMABAD:

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.