Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif has reaffirmed his commitment to expanding the Daanish Schools network as a platform for providing high-quality education to talented children from disadvantaged backgrounds across Pakistan.
Addressing the inauguration ceremony of Daanish School Kuri in Islamabad on Sunday, Shehbaz said no talented child should be deprived of quality education because of financial constraints. He said the Daanish Schools initiative was designed to give students from underprivileged families opportunities comparable to those available to children from affluent backgrounds.
The prime minister said Pakistan could not fully realise the vision of Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah without ensuring equal access to education and healthcare. He pointed to the achievements of Daanish School students and graduates as evidence that children from economically disadvantaged families could excel when given the right opportunities.
Launched in 2010 during Shehbaz Sharif’s tenure as chief minister of Punjab, the Daanish Schools initiative was established to bridge the educational gap between privileged and disadvantaged sections of society. The programme has since expanded beyond Punjab, with new schools being developed in different parts of the country, including Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh, Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan.
More than 40,000 students are currently receiving education through Daanish Schools, while 28 additional schools are under construction across Pakistan. The planned schools include nine in Balochistan, six in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, three in Sindh, five in Azad Jammu and Kashmir and four in Gilgit-Baltistan.
The newly inaugurated Daanish School Kuri in Islamabad represents another major expansion of the initiative. Built on 30 acres, the school currently provides education from Grade 6 to Grade 8, with 360 talented students from different parts of Pakistan admitted on merit.
The Islamabad campus includes modern academic facilities as well as IT, science and robotics laboratories, an e-library and an art room. The emphasis on emerging technologies reflects the government’s effort to ensure that Daanish School students are not only given access to quality conventional education but are also prepared for an increasingly digital economy.
Shehbaz stressed that Pakistan had countless talented boys and girls whose abilities could contribute to national development if financial barriers to education were removed. He highlighted the stories of Daanish School students who had overcome difficult circumstances to pursue successful academic and professional careers.
Students Zahid Gul from Kurram and Aiman Ali Gul shared their experiences at the ceremony, explaining how financial difficulties had threatened their education before opportunities through the Daanish Schools system enabled them to continue their studies.
Daanish School graduates also shared their success stories, including graduates who went on to become doctors and professionals. The prime minister said such achievements demonstrated the potential of Pakistan’s youth and the importance of investing in children regardless of their economic background.
The government is also expanding scholarship support through the Pakistan Education Endowment Fund, which evolved from the Punjab Education Endowment Fund. The programme is intended to help talented students continue their education despite financial constraints.
Related: Ideas to Innovation: Daanish Technology Park Opens Its Doors
The expansion of Daanish Schools marks an effort to create a more merit-based education system in which a student’s future is determined by talent, commitment and hard work rather than family income or geographical location. With the addition of IT, artificial intelligence and robotics-focused facilities, the government is also seeking to align the Daanish Schools network with the skills demanded by the future economy.
