£190 million NCA funds to support education
The government has chosen to use these frozen funds for the noble cause of providing education in emerging technologies.
The government of Imran Khan had earlier adjusted the Rs54 billion against private liabilities, a decision that led to his 14-year conviction in the high-profile Al-Qadir Trust case.
The government sources told The Express Tribune that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has approved the use of the funds for education purposes, and the Supreme Court of Pakistan, which is the custodian of the funds, has also given its consent.
According to the government's decision, the £190 million will be allocated for the construction of the Daanish University of Emerging Technologies in Islamabad, as well as Daanish schools in the country's poorest and most remote areas.
The Daanish Schools Initiative was launched by Shehbaz Sharif in 2010 in Punjab to provide modern education and recreational facilities to children from under-privileged families.
After the 18th Constitutional Amendment, education is a provincial subject but the federal government has decided to construct these Daanish schools in the backward areas.
The eligibility criteria for admission to Daanish Schools require that either the student's parents are deceased or the family is among the poorest, as per the Benazir Income Support Card registry. Seats are equally distributed between boys and girls, provided they meet the admission criteria.
The funds will be used for establishing the "state of the art research university with an endowment to [ensure] self-sustainability and the balance amount [will be allocated to build] a few Daanish Schools in the backward areas," said Ahsan Iqbal, Federal Minister for Planning while confirming the development.
The prime minister has made Ahsan Iqbal head of a 10-member expert committee, which will finalise the lists of schools and programmes in emerging technologies.
In 2019, the NCA of the United Kingdom reached a settlement deal worth £190 million. The £190 million or Rs54 billion had not gone back to the federal government at that time. Instead, the money had been transferred directly into the account of the Supreme Court.
This year the accountability court convicted Imran Khan for 14 years and his wife Bushra Bibi for seven years in the Al-Qadir Trust case. Soon after the verdict, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar had said that the money recovered by the NCA would be used for the nation's welfare.
The Supreme Court registrar was the head operator of the designated account, which is being changed to take control of these funds, said the government sources.
The funds will not be spent through the Public Sector Development Programme. Instead a special purpose vehicle will be set up to make sure that these funds do not lapse at the end of the fiscal year and remain available for education purposes.
The prime minister has also instructed to form an independent oversight committee to ensure transparency in the utilisation of these funds, said the sources.
Shehbaz Sharif will head the 11-member steering committee. Its members are Minister for Planning, Minister for Economic Affairs, Minister for Law, Minister for Federal Education, Chairman Higher Education Commission, Secretary Information Technology, Secretary Finance, Secretary Education, Secretary Planning and Chairman of the Capital Development Authority.
The oversight committee will give strategic guidelines and define the university's mission, vision and objectives. It will also supervise the infrastructure development including the land availability by the CDA and will approve the governance model.
The PM-led committee will also oversee the legislation for the establishment of the university and monitor its construction within 18 months, said the sources.
The Ahsan Iqbal-led expert committee comprises economists and educationists and will finalise the lists of schools and programmes in emerging technologies.
The expert committee will provide the roadmap for academic programmes, shortlist the research priorities and ensure collaboration with international centres of excellence for exchange programmes.
The sources said the university will operate as a Trust with operational independence. A 20-bed hospital will also be part of the Daanish University, according to the Prime Minister's decision.
The planning ministry has also been instructed to ensure timely approvals of the PC-Is of the Daanish schools.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Express Tribune
6 hours ago
- Express Tribune
Delay often 'extinguishes justice': SC
The Supreme Court has noted that it cannot remain indifferent to the systemic malaise of delay in the adjudication of cases, adding that justice delayed is not merely justice deniedit is often justice extinguished. In a four-page verdict on an appeal filed against a high court order in an auction case, the SC lamented that the appeal of the petitioner in the case remained pending before the high court for ten years while it took three years for the SC to take up the matter. The verdict authored by Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah said the question that engaged the attention of the court was not limited to the validity of the auction; rather it extended to whether any meaningful relief could now be granted after the passage of fourteen years. "Even if the petitioner's claim had merit, the sands of time have all but eroded its potency," it stated. The verdict said it is beyond cavil that delay in adjudicating cases by the courts at any tier of the justice system corrodes public confidence in the judiciary, undermines the rule of law, and disproportionately harms the weak and vulnerable who cannot afford the cost of prolonged litigation. "Delay in adjudication carries severe macroeconomic and societal consequences: it deters investment, renders contracts illusory, and weakens the institutional legitimacy of the judiciary. "A justice system's credibility rests not only in the fairness of its decisions but also in the timeliness with which those decisions are rendered. The issue is not merely administrative, it is constitutional". It stated that the right to access to justice is guaranteed by Articles 4, 9 and 10A of the Constitution and it encompasses within it the right to a fair and timely trial. Delay that renders a remedy ineffective or a right illusory amount to a denial of due process. Justice, to be real, must be both just and timely. The verdict said over 2.2 million cases are currently pending before courts across Pakistan, including approximately 55,941 cases before the SC alone despite enhancing the number of judges. These figures, he said, are not abstractthey represent disputes suspended in time. It said delay in adjudication is not merely a by-product of docket congestion or branch-level inefficiencies; it is a deeper, structural challenge of judicial governance.
Business Recorder
8 hours ago
- Business Recorder
Army chief dismisses rumours of leadership change in Pakistan
BRUSSELS: Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir addressed circulating rumours about his future role, Pakistan's strategic relations, and national security priorities, emphasizing the need for political and diplomatic balance. Addressing an event in Brussels, Field Marshal Munir dismissed recent speculations about changes in Pakistan's leadership, calling them 'completely false.' He said those spreading such rumours are opposed to both the government and the ruling elite. 'I am the protector of this country by God's will, and I do not seek any other position,' he asserted, reinforcing his commitment to national duty. The army chief noted that political reconciliation could be achieved through sincere apologies. He highlighted the importance of unity and dialogue in strengthening Pakistan's democratic institutions and political stability. Field Marshal Asim Munir stressed Pakistan's foreign policy long experience in maintaining a strategic balance between China and the United States. He said Islamabad has a long history of balancing relations between China and the United States. 'We will not sacrifice one friend for another,' he asserted. He also praised US President Donald Trump's desire for peace, noting Pakistan's initiative in recommending Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize as an example of proactive diplomacy that is now being recognized globally. 'Pakistan took the initiative in recommending the Nobel Prize for [President] Trump, now the rest of the world is following suit,' he remarked. The army chief warned India against destabilising Pakistan's peace through proxies. He also urged the Afghan government to stop policies that push the Taliban into Pakistan. 'It is our duty to avenge the blood of each Pakistani,' he said. COAS Asim Munir received a hero's welcome from overseas Pakistanis in Brussels, where he was hailed as a 'victor of war.' Defying protocol advice, he spent several hours standing to greet and meet expatriates who had traveled from far and wide. 'How can I break the hearts of those who came from afar?' he remarked, refusing to leave until he had shaken hands with every attendee. Field Marshal Asim Munir also praised Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's dedication, noting his 18-hour workdays during the war with India and the determination shown by the cabinet. 'Their efforts reflect true commitment to Pakistan's security and resilience,' he added. Earlier, rumours began to circulate in July that President Asif Ali Zardari would be asked to step down, and that the COAS would take over the top office. However, top government officials, including Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, rejected such claims. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif put the rumours to rest last month, calling them 'mere speculation.' 'Field Marshal Asim Munir has never expressed any desire to become the president, nor is there any such plan in the offing,' Sharif had said. Before that, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi had dismissed the rumours suggesting that Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir intended to become the president, terming the speculation 'completely baseless and harmful to national stability'. In a statement issued on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), the federal minister strongly condemned what he described as a 'negative campaign' targeting President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and the army chief. 'These rumours are being deliberately spread by hostile elements and foreign agencies to undermine political stability and institutional harmony in the country,' the minister claimed. Naqvi said there was no truth to reports of President Zardari resigning or Gen Munir eyeing the presidency. 'The Chief of Army Staff has no political objectives. His only focus is on strengthening Pakistan and ensuring its stability,' he said.
Express Tribune
10 hours ago
- Express Tribune
Global condolences pour in as floods devastate Pakistan
A woman walks past a damaged vehicle following heavy rain and floods in Buner district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Pakistan, August 16, 2025. Photo: Reuters Several countries, including Saudi Arabia, Iran, Russia and Kuwait, have extended condolences and expressed solidarity with Pakistan in the wake of catastrophic monsoon floods that have left at least 313 people dead and caused widespread devastation in parts of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P). In a statement issued on Saturday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia conveyed the Kingdom's "sincere condolences and sympathy" to the government and people of Pakistan over the loss of lives caused by floods and torrential rains. The ministry reaffirmed Riyadh's solidarity with Pakistan during this difficult time and expressed its support for the bereaved families, wishing the injured a swift recovery. Read More: PDMA warns of more rains after 313 dead in K-P floods Separately, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian also expressed his country's solidarity with Pakistan following the deadly floods. In an official message to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, President Pezeshkian extended 'the sincere sympathy of the Iranian government and people' and emphasised Tehran's readiness to provide humanitarian aid and relief assistance to help alleviate the suffering of those affected. Russia has also expressed deep sorrow and condolences over the loss of lives caused by recent floods in Pakistan. Russian President Vladimir Putin, in a letter addressed to President Asif Ali Zardari, expressed sorrow over the tragic loss of life in K-P. He conveyed heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased and wished the injured a speedy recovery while extending his best wishes to the affected communities. Meanwhile, Kuwait's Foreign Minister Abdullah Al-Yahya called Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar to convey the condolences of Crown Prince Sabah Al-Khalid Al-Sabah over the tragic loss of lives and damage caused by the recent floods. The Kuwaiti foreign minister assured that the government and the people of Kuwait stood ready to extend all possible support to Pakistan during this challenging time. Read: Curfew imposed in parts of Bajaur amid anti-terror operation Senator Dar expressed gratitude for Kuwait's gesture and noted that both leaders looked forward to meeting during the upcoming Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) session in Jeddah later this month. The current monsoon spell has led to widespread flash flooding, landslides, and infrastructure damage across several districts of K-P, prompting emergency response measures by the military, Frontier Corps, and disaster management authorities. The K-P Relief Department has declared an emergency in the districts of Swat, Battagram, Bajaur, Torghar, Mansehra, Shangla, Lower Dir, Upper Dir, and Kohistan, which will remain in effect from August 15 to August 31, 2025.
