ISLAMABAD – Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has approved the use of £190 million, equal to Rs54 billion, for the construction of the Daanish University of Emerging Technologies and Daanish Schools. These funds were earlier returned to Pakistan by the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA).
The government has now decided to utilise this amount to support public education. A large portion of the fund will be used to build a modern Daanish University in Islamabad. The remaining amount will go toward setting up Daanish Schools in some of the poorest and most neglected areas of the country.
These funds had become a central part of the Al-Qadir Trust case, in which former Prime Minister Imran Khan was sentenced to 14 years in prison. His government had previously adjusted this amount against private liabilities, leading to his conviction.
Sources from the government confirmed that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has approved the education plan. The Supreme Court of Pakistan, which had been the custodian of the money, has also given consent for this use.
Ahsan Iqbal, Federal Minister for Planning, said the funds will help establish a world-class Daanish University with a strong endowment for self-sustainability. The leftover amount will be used to set up Daanish Schools in remote and backward regions.
The Daanish Schools initiative was originally launched by Shehbaz Sharif in 2010 in Punjab. These schools offer modern learning environments, sports facilities, and support for underprivileged children.
Despite education being a provincial matter after the 18th Amendment, the federal government has opted to build these schools in neglected areas. Admission criteria include eligibility through the Benazir Income Support Card or if both parents are deceased. Equal seats will be reserved for boys and girls who qualify.
A special purpose vehicle will manage the Daanish University fund to avoid lapsing at the end of the financial year. The government wants to ensure that the funds stay secure and dedicated to educational growth.
An independent oversight committee will also be formed to ensure complete transparency. Shehbaz Sharif will lead the 11-member steering committee. Other members include ministers from Planning, Economic Affairs, Education, and Law. Top officials like the Chairman of HEC, and secretaries from various departments will also be part of it.
The committee will give direction to the university’s mission, structure, and development. It will also oversee land allocation by the Capital Development Authority and approve the final governance model. Additionally, the committee will supervise the university’s construction, which is expected to be completed within 18 months.
Meanwhile, Ahsan Iqbal will head a 10-member expert group that includes economists and educationists. This expert panel will finalise academic programs, research fields, and partnerships with global institutions.
The Daanish University will function as a Trust with full operational independence. It will also house a 20-bed hospital as part of the campus facilities.
The Planning Ministry has been instructed to ensure timely approval of PC-Is for Daanish Schools. Officials say the goal is to build strong institutions in emerging technologies and uplift backward regions through quality education.
The Daanish University project is now seen as a landmark step in reshaping Pakistan’s education sector using these recovered funds.
