ISLAMABAD: The Higher Education Commission (HEC) has started its work on converting the Prime Minister (PM) House into a state-of-the-art university as announced by Prime Minister Imran Khan.

Sources in the Capital Development Authority (CDA) said the HEC had obtained copies of the maps and designs of the PM House and Presidency from the civic agency. They said a few days ago, the HEC got a copy of the design of the PM House, and on Friday, it obtained the design copy of the Presidency.

The sources said some area of the Presidency might also be used for university purpose which was why a copy of its design had also been obtained.

Recently, Minister for Education and Professional Training Shafqat Mehmood told mediapersons that Rs470 million were spent on the PM House every year. A committee, headed by the education minister and having Dr Attaur Rahman and HEC Chairman Dr Tariq Banuri as its members, is handling the project.

An official of the HEC said the project was in the planning stage and the commission was closely coordinating with the education ministry in this regard.

Meanwhile, an official of the CDA said the civic agency would provide all assistance to the committee for the university project.

However, he said for establishing a university in the PM House, there was a need to review the master plan of Islamabad, as according to the existing plan, a university could not be built on a purpose-built government building.

Published in Dawn, September 29th, 2018