Islamabad: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif inaugurated a Daanish School in Islamabad on Sunday, October 18, as part of the government's initiative to expand access to education for students from low income families.
At the inauguration ceremony, the prime minister said the programme aimed to give students from disadvantaged backgrounds educational opportunities comparable to those available to children from wealthy families.
The Daanish Schools initiative was introduced in Punjab in 2010 during Shehbaz Sharif's tenure as chief minister. The network provides boarding and educational facilities to boys and girls from families with limited financial resources.
During his address, the prime minister questioned the differences in educational opportunities available to children from different economic backgrounds.
He referred to institutions such as Aitchison College, saying children from influential, wealthy families had access to educational facilities many students from low income households could not afford.
Shehbaz said the Daanish Schools programme was established to address this disparity by providing education based on students' abilities rather than their families' financial circumstances.
The prime minister also shared examples of former Daanish School students who had pursued professional careers despite facing financial and family difficulties.
He mentioned a student from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and a woman from Bahawalpur who became a doctor after losing her father during childhood.
Shehbaz emphasised that access to education should not depend on family income or social status, adding that children who had lost their parents should also receive opportunities to pursue their studies.
The prime minister interacted with students during his visit to the Islamabad campus. Federal Minister for Education Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui also addressed the ceremony.
The foundation stone for the Islamabad Daanish School was laid in 2024, with the Capital Development Authority allocating 10 acres of land for the project.
The institution attracted interest during its admissions process earlier this year. In March, more than 7000 students applied for admission against 210 available seats.
The school's board of governors also approved a Rs 3.8 billion budget for the 2026 to 27 financial year.
The Islamabad campus forms part of the government's plans to extend the Daanish Schools network beyond Punjab and increase access to boarding school education for students from disadvantaged communities.
