Islamabad: The Federal Minister for Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives, Prof. Ahsan Iqbal, recently chaired a meeting to review the progress of various national initiatives, including four Centers of Excellence and the establishment of nine Seerat Chairs across Pakistan. The meeting focused on significant projects such as the National Center for Manufacturing and Bayt-ul-Hikmah at the National University of Modern Languages (NUML).
According to Press Information Department, the meeting addressed developments in several major projects approved by the Central Development Working Party (CDWP). Prof. Iqbal emphasized the strategic importance of the National Center for Manufacturing, which is set to be completed by June 30, 2027, with a budget of Rs 4,289.880 million and a significant foreign exchange component of Rs 2,901.250 million. The Planning Minister highlighted the crucial role of material sciences in the future of production technologies and insisted on appointing a leading expert in material science to lead this project.
The establishment of Bayt-ul-Hikmah at NUML was another critical topic discussed during the meeting. This project aims to serve as a platform for translating the world’s major books into local languages and vice versa, fostering a global knowledge exchange. The project’s revised cost stands at Rs 485.998 million. Prof. Iqbal directed the formation of a steering committee to oversee the selection of books and recruitment of talent for translation tasks.
Furthermore, the meeting reviewed the Quality Assurance Framework for Higher Education in Pakistan. The Minister called for enhanced regulation of academic departments to improve the performance of higher education institutions. He outlined a roadmap focusing on seven key themes including academic quality, research, technology infrastructure, and graduate employability.
Prof. Iqbal also tasked the Vice Chancellor of Quaid-e-Azam University with preparing a comprehensive plan for the A.Q. Khan Institute of Materials and Emerging Sciences within the next seven days. He reiterated the need for top experts in material sciences to be involved to align the project with global standards.
Additionally, the progress of the initiative to establish nine Seerat Chairs was reviewed. These chairs are to be filled by internationally acclaimed Islamic scholars through the Higher Education Commission (HEC), a move aimed at enhancing Islamic studies across the nation. The Planning Minister urged for the acceleration of this process to ensure timely implementation.