The federal cabinet has approved a specific amendment to Islamabad’s city masterplan to make way for a university at the Prime Minister House.
Converting the Prime Minister House into a university was one of the many electoral promises Khan made during his election campaign.
He has delivered on many of them, including opening governor houses for the masses, not residing in the PM House, an austerity drive and accountability across the board. But, his dream to build a university in PM House is yet to be fulfilled.
ALSO READ
CDA Rejects Plan to Establish University in PM House
PM Khan inaugurated the ‘Islamabad National University’ last year, but the masterplan for the federal capital did not allow this alteration.
The masterplan of the city does not allow the establishment of an educational institution at the PM House located in G-5 as this sector, which is dedicated to government and administrative buildings only.
However, with the latest approval, which came from the cabinet on Tuesday, has given a new life to Khan’s varsity dream.
“Today the cabinet approved a 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 Minister for Education Shafqat Mahmood at a press briefing.
ALSO READ
Imran Khan Fulfills His Promise of Leaving Prime Minister House
The PM House also issued a notification in this regard. It said that former Higher Education Commission (HEC) chairman Prof Dr. Attaur Rehman called on PM Imran Khan to discuss the project.
“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 notification read.
Dr. Atta informed the premier that six centers of excellence can be established in the university; for artificial intelligence, energy, biotechnology, material sciences and more.
He suggested that another four centers of excellence for artificial intelligence can be set up in the country, one in each provincial capital.
ALSO READ
PM House Officially Turned Into Islamabad National University
A proposal for research funding to promote research work in the country was also discussed.
It should be mentioned here that just a month after the prime minister announced to build the university, the Capital Development Authority (CDA) shot down the idea suggesting that doing so would violate the master plan.
The matter remained in jeopardy for over six months before the cabinet changed the masterplan on Tuesday.
Bad decision to establish a university in “Red Zone”.