ISLAMABAD, July 14: A UAE philanthropist has agreed to give Rs6 million for the expansion of Mukhtaran Mai’s school in Meerwala after a senator apprised him about the plight and courage of the woman, who stood up to fight back the forces of darkness. Talking to Dawn, Senator Enver Beg of People’s Party Parliamentarians said the UAE philanthropist, Hussain Abdul Rehman Khansaheb, would provide Rs6 million for construction and furnishing of additional classrooms in the two-room school.

Senator Beg said he knew Khansaheb for over 35 years and had brought the case to his knowledge on which he expressed his desire to help Mukhtaran Mai.

The PPP leader said he had sent the design of school expansion to Khansaheb who owned a construction company in the UAE. After studying the design, the philanthropist recommended certain changes.

The design for expansion includes construction of five new classrooms, a staff room, a room for the principal, two computer labs, a canteen, a playground and two bathrooms.

Senator Beg said Mukhtaran Mai had become a symbol of courage for the downtrodden and oppressed women, who not only took the legal course to seek justice but also emphasised the need for education to combat the social evils through her initiative of establishing a school in which the children of her tormentors were also allowed to study.

When asked why Mukhtaran Mai’s school was chosen, Senator Beg said it was the beginning and if more deserving cases were brought forward he would try to help them.

Replying to a question if he would commit to constructing a university by seeking more funding for the Mai’s school, Senator Beg said it was too early to say anything about the university.

Asked if he was contemplating a career change from politics to philanthropy, Senator Beg said he wanted to help the poor and needy people in different capacities and politics and philanthropy were just a means to achieve that end.