ISLAMABAD: Inspired by Army Chief General Asim Munir’s committed vision for Pakistan’s IT industry, Tanweer Ahmed, a well-known businessman of American-Pakistani descent, has donated $9 million to the National University of Science & Technology (NUST) in Islamabad.
Tanweer Ahmed, a businessman from Houston, has given $9 million to NUST to support scholarships that allow underprivileged students to attend top universities. Tanweer Ahmed and the university have partnered to establish an Endowment Fund for underprivileged students, which would enable roughly 200 students to receive scholarships annually, according to NUST.
Tanweer Ahmed expressed enthusiasm: “Learning about the visionary stance of Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Syed Asim Munir, particularly his zeal for the IT sector, left me excited and thrilled. I firmly believe that the active involvement of the Army in the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) is a brilliant strategy to unleash Pakistan’s genuine IT potential.”
Tanweer Ahmed added: “I have conceived the idea of the NUST Information Technology (IT) Tower for the youth of Pakistan, for which COAS General Asim Munir is leading the effort to harmonize our endeavors. The steps taken by General Asim Munir are commendable and inspiring. No army chief has done as much as Gen Munir in just one year for Pakistan’s IT sector and a clean national economy. He has taken excellent steps to put Pakistan’s economy on the right course.”
The entrepreneur emphasized that Pakistan possesses crucial infrastructure and has witnessed substantial public sector investments in resource development. According to him, Pakistan’s untapped digital potential amounts to USD 59.6 billion (PKR 9.7 trillion), with a projected FinTech potential of USD 35 billion by 2025. The country’s IT sector shows promise, evidenced by a remarkable 47% growth in freelancing, ranking it fourth globally. Furthermore, the youth demographic, constituting 64% of the population under 30 years, is considered a significant and valuable resource for the nation.
Engineer Javed Mahmood Bukhari, NUST Rector, said that the project will perpetually benefit thousands of brilliant Pakistani boys and girls seeking world-class university education in the coming years.
The NUST Rector said: “Tanweer Ahmed, a well-known Pakistani American, philanthropist-businessman from Houston, USA, has partnered with NUST to support the financially challenged students. This unique initiative is the first in any public sector university in Pakistan. Tanweer is making approximately nine million dollars worth of investment in the university’s science and technology park, so 50% of the project’s income will go into a specially formed endowment for students with humble financial backgrounds. The initiative has the potential of remarkable societal impact in altering the lives of thousands of Pakistani families.” —APP
