Islamabad, March 10, 2025: The government of Pakistan decided to allocate £190 million (Rs54 billion) from the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA) settlement funds to build a public-sector university and schools. Originally frozen by UK authorities, this amount played a key role in the conviction of former Prime Minister Imran Khan in the Al-Qadir Trust case.
The Supreme Court of Pakistan, which has custodianship of the funds, has approved their use for educational purposes. The government will utilize the funds to establish the Daanish University of Emerging Technologies in Islamabad and Daanish Schools in remote and underprivileged areas.
Launched in 2010 by Shehbaz Sharif in Punjab, the Daanish Schools Initiative provides quality education to underprivileged children. Despite education being a provincial subject after the 18th Constitutional Amendment, the federal government has decided to build these schools in backward regions.
Admission to Daanish Schools is reserved for children from the poorest families, as verified by the Benazir Income Support Card registry. Seats are equally distributed between boys and girls who meet the criteria.
Federal Minister for Planning Ahsan Iqbal has been appointed to lead a 10-member expert committee that will finalize the list of schools and academic programs in emerging technologies. The project will not be financed through the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) but via a special purpose vehicle to ensure financial sustainability beyond the fiscal year.
An 11-member steering committee, headed by Shehbaz Sharif, will oversee the project. The committee includes key ministers, the Chairman Higher Education Commission (HEC), Secretary Finance, Secretary Education, Secretary IT, and the Chairman of the Capital Development Authority (CDA). This body will define the university’s mission, monitor construction progress within 18 months, and guide strategic decisions.
The Daanish University of Emerging Technologies will operate as a trust-based institution with operational independence. The curriculum will focus on research and collaboration with international centers of excellence. A 20-bed hospital will also be established within the university premises.
The £190 million settlement was reached between the NCA and a Pakistani businessman in 2019. Instead of being transferred to the federal government, the funds were deposited into the Supreme Court’s account. The Al-Qadir Trust case—linked to the alleged misuse of these funds—resulted in a 14-year sentence for Imran Khan and a 7-year sentence for his wife, Bushra Bibi.
Following the conviction, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar announced that the funds would be used for public welfare. To ensure transparency, an independent oversight committee will be formed to monitor fund utilization. The Planning Ministry has also been directed to expedite necessary approvals for the construction of Daanish Schools.
This initiative marks a significant investment in Pakistan’s education sector, with a focus on bridging the digital divide and providing opportunities in emerging technologies.
