NUST has confirmed that Ahmed has partnered with the university through an endowment fund for disadvantaged students.
London/Houston: American-Pakistani business tycoon Tanvir Ahmed has donated $9 million ($2.5 billion) to Islamabad’s National University of Science and Technology (NUST) to help students from poor backgrounds gain access to quality education through scholarships. Has donated more than Rs.
NUST has confirmed that Ahmed has partnered with the university through the Endowment Fund for Disadvantaged Students, which will benefit approximately 200 students who will be able to receive scholarships each year. The $9 million donation is one of the largest donations made by any foreign Pakistani to any Pakistani university.
Ahmed told Geo News in an interview that he plans to extend the scheme to other universities and NUST where the donation scheme will run permanently. He said there will be a formal ceremony at NUST Islamabad next month to formally launch the scholarship program which will be attended by the top leadership of Pakistan.
The Houston-based businessman said: “Eligible students will receive annual scholarships through the Higher Education Commission (HEC). The system of availing scholarships will be completely merit based and will be aimed only at those students who are unable to afford quality and expensive education.
I decided to launch an endowment fund to assist talented and deserving Pakistani students to make their mark in various advanced fields such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Information Technology (IT) and latest technologies. The future belongs to these areas and Pakistan will benefit greatly from its youth.
Ahmed is an American-Pakistani businessman, investor, entrepreneur, and philanthropist who works with major companies, non-profit organizations, and hospitals.
He is the owner of the Prairie View Cricket Complex, the largest cricket complex in Houston, and the owner of the Houston Hurricanes cricket franchise. The multi-millionaire businessman is the founder of a brand of food chains and also owns several food chain franchises.
He owns California’s largest transportation company and has business interests in the energy sector and the pharmaceutical industry. He is credited with providing over $50 million in aid to Pakistan during the devastating 2022 floods in Pakistan.
Originally from Sialkot, he started out in America on a humble note when he moved as a student and worked in a restaurant. He was then promoted to manager in the same restaurant. He then started his own restaurant business and has now established several businesses and successful companies.
He says it is his humble background and practical knowledge of the realities of Pakistan that has inspired him to work to empower Pakistani youth.
He said: “30 years ago we did not have the opportunities that students may have today. I don’t think there were many successful Pakistanis in America or Europe in the 90s. Today there are thousands of people who have performed well in life. I am just one of them. Today many people are helping Pakistan in every possible way. More than ever, Pakistanis need to come forward with their philanthropic efforts.
Ahmed said that expatriate Pakistanis are grateful to Pakistan for serving the country of their origin and identity. “We are indebted to our motherland because we are where we are because of Pakistan. Our best contribution can be made by empowering our youth with modern education and knowledge. I am happy to play my role in helping Pakistani youth achieve their goals in life.
This is not the first time that Ahmed has given money to Pakistan. They have set up a hospital in Sialkot where NUST Rector Engineer Javed Mahmood Bukhari said in a statement that the project will benefit thousands of talented Pakistani boys and girls to receive world-class university education in the coming years.
NUST Rector said: “Mr. Tanveer Ahmed, a renowned Pakistani American, philanthropist-businessman from Houston USA has partnered with NUST to support economically challenged students. This is the first unique initiative of its kind in any public sector university in Pakistan. Mr Tanvir is investing approximately nine million dollars in the university’s science and technology park, with 50% of the project’s income going into an endowment specifically set up for students from ordinary financial backgrounds. This initiative has the potential to have significant social impact in terms of transforming the lives of thousands of Pakistani families.
Engineer Bukhari said: “NUST is proud of this transformational partnership with Tanveer Ahmed, which reflects a shared commitment to advancing educational equity while generating positive economic impact. With a student population of approximately twenty thousand, the National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST) Islamabad is one of the most sought-after universities in Pakistan.
