The Pakistani government, under Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, has designated £190 million (approximately Rs54 billion) recovered from a UK settlement to enhance the nation’s educational infrastructure. This allocation will fund the establishment of the Daanish University of Emerging Technologies in Islamabad and the construction of Daanish schools in underprivileged and remote regions.
In 2019, the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA) reached a £190 million settlement with Pakistani authorities. Initially, these funds were deposited directly into the Supreme Court of Pakistan’s account. The previous administration had adjusted this amount against private liabilities, a decision that later contributed to the conviction of former Prime Minister Imran Khan in the Al-Qadir Trust case.
The current administration has repurposed these funds to support educational initiatives. A state-of-the-art research institution focusing on emerging technologies will be established in Islamabad, with an endowment fund ensuring its financial sustainability. Additionally, new Daanish schools will be constructed in some of the country’s most impoverished and remote areas to provide modern education and recreational facilities to children from underprivileged backgrounds.
The Daanish Schools Initiative, launched in 2010 by Shehbaz Sharif in Punjab, targets students whose parents are deceased or belong to the poorest families, as identified by the Benazir Income Support Programme. Admissions are equally distributed between boys and girls meeting the eligibility criteria.
To ensure effective utilization of the funds, the government has established oversight committees. A steering committee, chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, includes key ministers and officials who will provide strategic guidance, define the university’s mission, and oversee infrastructure development, including land allocation by the Capital Development Authority (CDA). Additionally, an expert committee, led by Federal Minister for Planning Ahsan Iqbal, consists of economists and educationists responsible for finalizing the list of schools and programs in emerging technologies.
A special purpose vehicle will be established to manage the funds, ensuring they remain dedicated to educational purposes and do not lapse at the end of the fiscal year. Furthermore, an independent oversight committee will be formed to maintain transparency in fund utilization.
