Revision of the master plan allows university to be established

ISLAMABAD: The federal cabinet approves the change in the master plan to allow the establishment of a university at the PM House (Tuesday)

As promised before winning the 2018 elections, Imran Khan had said he would convert the Prime Minister House into a university.

Minister for Education Shafqat Mahmood briefed the press, post-cabinet meeting, “Today the cabinet approved the change of master plan for 50 acre land of PM House. We will set up a university in PM House with special focus on modern education such as artificial intelligence and engineering,” said at a post-cabinet meeting press briefing.

Meanwhile, a press release was issued by the Prime Minister Office which informed about the meeting between the former chairman of Higher Education Commission (HEC), Prof Dr. Attaur Rehman and Prime Minister Imran Khan to discuss the project proposed for the university at the PM House.

“Dr. Rehman discussed with the prime minister the proposed project of the University of Engineering and Emerging Technologies to be set up at the PM House. The prime minister was informed that six centers of excellence would be established in the university, including for artificial intelligence, energy, biotechnology, and material sciences,” the press release said, as the former chairman discussed the plan for the establishment of the other five centers, one in the federal capital and others in the provincial capital.

The Capital Development Authority (CDA) had informed the federal government that the initiative to set up a university at the Prime Minister House would be a violation of the city’s master plan, which the government needs to alter in order to start a university, as a university is non-compatible in an administrative block.

To review the master plan of the city, was the main mandate of a 12-member commission had already been formulated by the federal cabinet.

The inaugural ceremony for the Islamabad National University, which is to be set up at the Prime Minister House, was held last year, as the university is an envisage of an institution that supports research-based policymaking.

The initial project would be the establishment of the Institute of Advanced Studies, with the task of providing science-based annual reports to the government on emerging challenges Pakistan and the world face, and later a Ph.D. programme would be started.

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