PM lays foundation stone for Daanish school in Chitral

Project aims to provide quality education, modern facilities for students in Pakistan’s remote northern region

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif laid the foundation stone for a new Daanish School in Chitral on October 31, marking a major step toward improving access to quality education in one of Pakistan’s most remote areas. The school will offer free boarding and lodging to deserving students and will include modern facilities such as digital classrooms, libraries, and playgrounds.

Speaking at the ceremony, the prime minister said the Chitral Daanish School would be built on the same model as Aitchison College in Lahore, ensuring that children from low-income families receive education of the highest standard.

He said the initiative was part of his broader vision to expand the Daanish School network to underdeveloped regions, including Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, Azad Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan.

Calling the school a “gift from the federal government to the people of Chitral,” Shehbaz expressed confidence that the institution would be ready to welcome its first batch of students next year. He noted that Daanish Schools in Punjab have already helped transform the lives of hundreds of students by giving them opportunities to compete on equal footing with peers from top private institutions.

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The prime minister also announced several other development initiatives for the area. He said a gas plant would be established in Chitral and directed officials to resolve electricity tariff issues in Upper Chitral. He further revealed that a university would be set up in Upper Chitral to give students greater access to higher education.

Shehbaz said he had spoken with the newly elected Chief Minister of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Sohail Afridi, to congratulate him on assuming office and invited him to work together for the province’s development. He stressed the need for joint efforts to combat terrorism and promote peace and prosperity in the region.

The launch of the Daanish School project in Chitral highlights the government’s commitment to bridging the education gap between urban and rural areas and ensuring that children from all parts of the country have access to modern, high-quality education.