Quality, modern and merit-based education govt’s top priority: PM Shehbaz 

Islamabad (Web Desk): Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has reaffirmed that providing quality, modern and merit-based education to deserving and talented youth is the government’s priority.

He was chairing a high-level review meeting regarding the establishment of Daanish University in Islamabad.

The prime minister said he expected the university, which is being built in the federal capital, to develop into a regional centre of technological excellence, backed by advanced academic, research and technical facilities.

The institution is scheduled to begin operations by September next year.

PM Shehbaz said that the university would provide talented students with education meeting international standards, while its admission process would be based strictly on merit across the country.

The meeting was informed during a briefing that 185 applications had so far been submitted for positions as the university continues the process of selecting highly qualified faculty members.

Officials also briefed the participants about a talent identification drive for students currently enrolled in the second year of F.Sc. and A-Levels.

Under the initiative, successful candidates for Daanish University’s Virtual School will receive five months of fully funded education after passing an entry test. The test is scheduled for October 24, 2026, and will be conducted in more than 40 cities.

The participants were further told that construction of the university’s campus is expected to be completed next year. A preparatory bridge programme will be held from August 10 to September 14, 2027, before the university officially begins its academic session on September 20, 2027.

At the initial stage, the university will offer programmes in bio-engineering, electrical engineering, artificial intelligence (AI), computer science, technology and social sciences.

Federal Ministers Ahsan Iqbal, Azam Nazeer Tarar, Ahad Khan Cheema, Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui and Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, MNA Osama Sarwar, Daanish University Board of Trustees Chairman Arif Saeed, and relevant senior government officials were also present at the meeting.