ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal on Thursday said that the proposed Daanish University of Applied and Emerging Sciences in Islamabad will symbolise a new beginning where students will be equipped with future-ready skill sets in applied sciences, innovation and technology.

“We must align our academic offerings with global standards and reimagine our universities as engines of national competitiveness,” the minister said while chairing the executive committee meeting to review progress on the establishment of the Daanish University.

The said university will be set up in Islamabad’s sector H-16 and PM had directed the authorities concerned to start construction work so that the first section of the university could become operational on August 14, 2026.

The said university will be set up out of 190 million pounds, which had been seized by the UK government from property tycoon Malik Riaz and returned to Pakistan.

Out of this amount, the Daanish University and several Daanish schools will be set up in various parts of the country.

During the said meeting, the planning minister highlighted the pressing need to reform Pakistan’s higher education system to equip the youth with the skills and knowledge required for the jobs and technologies of the future.

The meeting was attended by key stakeholders including the secretary of education, Higher Education Commission (HEC) chairman, Capital Development Authority (CDA) chairman, Member of Science and Technology, member infrastructure and senior officials from the ministries of education and planning.

Calling for inspiration from successful global education models, Mr Iqbal stressed the importance of immediately initiating the recruitment of top academic leadership and international faculty, ensuring the university benefits from best global practices in curriculum and research.

He further directed that degree programmes and course syllabi be developed in consultation with industry and academia to bridge the existing skills gap, supporting the exports and empowerment dimensions of the Uraan Pakistan strategy.

“The Daanish University must stand shoulder to shoulder with institutions like Lums and other world-class universities. It must become a hub of applied learning and industrial-academic collaboration,” he said.

Regarding infrastructure, the minister directed CDA and planning authorities to adopt a design approach grounded in simplicity, sustainability and cost-effectiveness, in line with the environment pillar of Uraan Pakistan.

The planning minister said that the said university would be a flagship centre for excellence in education and innovation, contributing significantly to Pakistan’s journey toward becoming a $3 trillion economy by 2047.

It embodies the spirit of Uraan Pakistan—preparing our youth not just to survive but to lead in the age of knowledge, technology and innovation, he said.

The secretary education briefed the participants on the formation of the Daanish Education Trust, the university’s charter and its legal framework.

It was also decided that international roadshows will be organised in Turkey, China, South Korea and Switzerland—jointly with the Jinnah Medical Complex and Research Centre—to engage world-renowned design and supervision consultants for the project.

Minister Ahsan Iqbal emphasised that the ministry of planning had earlier led the way with Vision 2025 by launching several transformative initiatives across its five key pillars.

Published in Dawn, May 23rd, 2025