Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has announced that the Daanish Schools network will be expanded to other provinces, urging provincial governments to establish similar high-quality educational institutions for deserving and underprivileged students.
Addressing a ceremony in Islamabad to mark International Youth Day, Prime Minister Shehbaz said the scope of Daanish Schools is being expanded to other provinces. He urged provincial governments to establish similar high-quality educational institutions to provide better opportunities to deserving students. He said the country’s development is not possible without ensuring equal educational opportunities for young people. If the youth are not brought into the field of modern sciences, he warned, Pakistan will fall behind in the global race for development.
The prime minister said institutions such as Daanish Schools are playing an important role in providing quality education to underprivileged and deserving children. Referring to the laptop distribution programme launched in Punjab during his tenure as chief minister, Shehbaz Sharif said he had faced criticism at the time, with some people describing the initiative as a form of bribery. However, he said those same laptops are now helping young people enter the modern era and gain access to modern sciences and technology.
He said that Daanish University in Islamabad is expected to be established next year, with classes also scheduled to begin in the same year. The university will offer technical education, with a strong focus on modern and technical sciences. He added that admissions will be strictly merit-based, ensuring that students can receive high-quality education regardless of their financial background.
Shehbaz Sharif said some people had dismissed laptops as merely machines, but he considered them a “mission” to equip the country’s youth with modern technology and educational opportunities. The prime minister stressed that the future of Pakistan lies with its young generation. He said ensuring equal access to quality education, modern sciences and technology is essential for the country’s national development.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has announced Pakistan’s first National Youth Policy, aimed at creating greater employment and entrepreneurship opportunities for young people. Under the policy, a 35% quota for women will be made mandatory across the workforce, while young people will also receive support to launch and develop startups. The prime minister announced the policy while addressing a ceremony in Islamabad on the occasion of International Youth Day.