CPEC Courses to Be Taught In a University Set In PM House

CPEC project is rapidly advancing in all fields including education. A large number of students are travelling to China under scholarships programmes, establishment of technical training institutes in Pakistan such as The Pak-China Technical and Vocational Institute at Gwadar and now PM house will be provided for teaching of CPEC courses. A university is said to be established in PM house to teach courses relating to CPEC projects. This initiative is another step for development of technical studies in Pakistan. The courses will be related to research in environmental and water issues, Central Asian studies, security, earth sciences and social sciences as well. Phd and MPhill programmes are also a part of the plan for state-of-the-art University. The chairpersons of the committee, The Federal Education and Professional Training minister Shafqat Mehmood and Human Rights minister Dr Shireen Mazari have an aim to create this university in accordance to international standards. Special Assistant to PM on Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development Zulfiqar Bokhari, Higher Education Commission (HEC) chairman Dr Tariq Banuri, HEC consultant Lt Gen (r) Muhammad Ashgar, Federal Education secretary Arshad Mirza, and Professional Training member/secretary also attended the meeting, Pardee School of Global Studies at Boston University’s Inaugural Dean, Adil Najam and Ex-Vice Chancellor LUMS (via videolink) were all the attendants of the first meeting of the committee. Joint Educational Advisor Muhammad Rafique Tahir said that the details of the meeting will be informed to PM Imran Khan and the next meeting is anticipated to be held within two- three weeks.

The utilization of PM house building for university will be low cost and it’s large enough to include building of more blocks over the years, if needed. PM Imran Khan had announced this conversion of PM house into university, in his first address to public after his success in election.

PM Imran Khan’s Plan to Utilize Government Buildings for Public Use

As informed to press, The Federal Minister for Education & Professional Training, Shafqat Mehmood,on Thursday. The following Government buildings will be converted into :

1. Government House in Murree into a ‘heritage boutique hotel’.
2. Punjab House in Murree into a tourist resort.
3. The Punjab and Sindh governors houses will remain open in day time for public
4. The Governor’s House in Lahore into a museum and art gallery.
5. Sindh Governor’s House in Karachi into a museum, and its park will be available for public all the time.
6. 90 Shahrah-e-Quaid-i-Azam which used as an office by Chief Minister of Punjab will be converted into a craft museum and convention centre, can be rented out for events.
7. Chanda House in Lahore into a new Governor’s Office.

By these conversions, the PTI government has an aim to save Rs 200 million which is their maintenance cost annually. The conversion of PM house into a university will be an example of its own type. According to , The Federal Minister for Education & Professional Training, Shafqat Mehmood, the PM house annual maintenance costs Rs470 million.