PTI Govt Take Out Fund Request for Converting PM House Into A Research Institute

ISLAMABAD: The PTI government has drawn back the proposal which was submitted to the Planning Commission looking for funds of Rs493 million for converting the grand Prime Minister’s House into an educational research institute.

The Central Development Working Party of PTI has decided to withdraw the summary of the project after the meeting on Monday. Now, after taking part in a task force under Dr Attaur Rehman, the proposal will again be submitted.

The Higher Education Commission had put the demand before the CDWP on the basis of a report produced by a committee chaired by the Federal Minister of Education, Shafqat Mahmood. The Meeting reported on the need to further improve the proposal, which resulted in the PC-I being removed from the agenda.

At first, the government had demanded Rs492.7 million to transform the PM House into a research institute, but then the demand was reduced to Rs305.6 million, according to official documents.

In October after the proposal, the federal cabinet approved the conversion of the PM House into Islamabad National University. Present infrastructure of the PM House will be used for the Institute of Advanced Studies, Darul Hikmah, and later on the university will be built adjacent to PM house. Despite this, PM Imran has so far used this official residence to accommodate foreign guests. The PM House was also used for Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman’s stay during his visit to the country.

Adviser to Prime Minister on Finance Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh is also residing at the guest house of the PM House. Newly appointed State Bank of Pakistan Governor Dr Reza Baqir has also stayed at the PM House’s guest house.

The PM House covers the area of over 30,000 square feet, which will be used for establishing the Darul Hikmah. The proposal shows that the “Darul Hikmah” will be dedicated to policy research institute which will work on emerging challenges faced by Pakistan and other countries in the region. In the next phase, which is not part of the current proposed cost, academic activities and graduate programs will begin here.

Foreign and local research and academic staff will provide their services for the research institute and Government will take steps in hiring the qualified staff. The plan also includes the procurement of new furniture and four vehicles for operational purposes. And donation fund will be generated for research and development activities.

For this purpose, there will be at least five international academics and six local research staff. In order to purchase furniture, the government asked for Rs19.3 million and Rs46.4 million. for ICT services. Additional Rs 133 million is needed to meet research, academic and technical personnel's expenses. An endowment fund, Rs21,9 million for transport and utility charges operating costs and Rs5 million for contingencies have been sought to be created with a total of Rs80 million. However, Dr Attaur Rehman and his Task Force will review all these allocations.

The government wants to follow the Brookings Institute model for Darul Hikmah. The new research centre will be set up as the first module of Islamabad national University and will hire a selected group of high-level professionals from Pakistan and abroad.

The government had set up a committee for the execution of the project includes Minster for Education Shafqat Mahmood, Minister for Human Rights Shireen Mazari, Adviser on Institutional Reforms and Austerity Dr Ishrat Husain and Adviser on Commerce, Textile and Production Dr Abdul Razak Dawood.

Source: The Express Tribune

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