Exploring Al Qadir University's Student Population

Al-Qadir University in Sohawa, Pakistan, is a non-profit organisation founded by former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan in 1996. The groundbreaking ceremony for the university took place in May 2019, and it has been established to educate students in both scientific and Islamic principles. The university has faced criticism for its alleged involvement in sectarianism and, as of December 2022, only 100 students were enrolled.

Al Qadir University's student numbers in its first two years

Al-Qadir University in Sohawa, Pakistan, was established in 2021. Founded by Imran Khan, who served as the country's Prime Minister from 2018 to 2022, the university aims to educate students in both scientific and Islamic principles. Khan's vision was to provide equal opportunities for education to the youth of Pakistan.

The groundbreaking ceremony for the university took place on 5 May 2019, and the campus will be constructed in two phases. In the first phase, the Sufi Block, Science Block, Admin Block, Student Hostel, Faculty Hostel, and a Cafeteria will be built. The Auditorium, Library, and Mosque will be constructed in the second phase. The campus will cover an area of 25 acres (200 kanal).

Despite Khan's ambitious vision, Al-Qadir University has faced challenges in its early years. In its first two years, the university enrolled only 100 students. In the first year, 41 students were admitted, and in the second year, only 60 additional students were enrolled. The university has not yet been recognised as a degree-awarding institution by the Punjab government and is still affiliated with the Government College University, offering only two programmes: Management Sciences and Islamic Studies.

However, a trustee of the university claimed that the process of gaining degree-awarding status was in its final stages and that recognition would be granted soon. The low student numbers may be due to the university's fee-charging structure, as it charges tuition fees despite being registered as a trust. In response to this criticism, a representative of the university explained that fees are charged to motivate students and to work towards financial independence from donations.

The status of Al Qadir University's recognition by the Punjab government

Al-Qadir University Project Trust (AQUPT) is a non-profit organisation founded in 1996 by Imran Khan, who served as Prime Minister of Pakistan from 2018 to 2022. The trust was established to provide relief to the poor and needy in Pakistan and promote education and healthcare. The groundbreaking ceremony for Al-Qadir University took place on 5 May 2019 in Sohawa, Pakistan, with Imran Khan laying the foundation stone.

The Al-Qadir University Project Trust was established to set up a university and quickly acquired land, buildings, faculty, and staff. As per Punjab Government Higher Education regulations, affiliation with a public university is necessary for degree-awarding status. The Trust became affiliated with Government College University Lahore. The university has two departments: Management Science and Islamic Studies.

Al-Qadir University aims to educate students in both scientific and Islamic principles to become morally, intellectually, and spiritually accomplished. The university will function like other private-sector universities in Pakistan, contributing to broadening the educational base. It will serve the youth in the most neglected and ignored zones, raising the standard of living for those in harsh conditions who must travel to other cities for higher education.

Al-Qadir University will also provide financial assistance to talented youth who cannot pursue their dreams due to financial constraints. The Trust has appointed a Management Committee and a Dean to manage academic affairs, and a high percentage of students admitted last year received scholarships. Now that all conditions have been satisfied, an application for Degree Awarding Institute Status has been submitted to the Punjab Higher Education Commission.

The subjects taught at Al Qadir University

Al-Qadir University in Sohawa, Pakistan, is a private university that aims to educate students to become morally, intellectually, and spiritually accomplished persons. The university's founder, former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan, laid the foundation stone in 2019. Khan's vision for the university was to provide equal opportunities in education to the youth of Pakistan, with a focus on science, technology, and contemporary studies of religion, emphasising Sufism to revive Islamic research.

The university will function similarly to other private universities in the country, contributing to the national cause of broadening the educational base. It will serve the youth in the most neglected and ignored zones, raising the standard of living for those who have had to travel to other cities for higher education.

Al-Qadir University will offer a unique culture of knowledge and learning, nurturing the relationship between Islam and science. The curriculum will blend traditional wisdom with modern scientific research, with a focus on developing leadership qualities in its students.

• Islamic Studies: The university will focus on contemporary studies of religion, with an emphasis on Sufism and its connection to Islam. The university is named after Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jilani, a prominent Sufi who established a link between Islam and spirituality. The curriculum will explore Islamic history, principles, and the country's ideology as envisioned by Allama Muhammad Iqbal and Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah.
• Scientific and Technological Fields: Contemporary sciences such as artificial intelligence and technology will be taught alongside Islamic principles. The university aims to educate students on the Islamic view of nature, where mankind has a duty to study nature to discover God and use nature for the benefit of mankind. This integration of Islam and science is inspired by the historical contributions of Muslims to different fields of science.
• Management: The university offers a BS Management program with a holistic learning approach. This program focuses on building leadership qualities and character development for leadership and impact.
• Other Potential Subjects: As the university is still in its initial phases, other specific subjects are not yet confirmed. However, the university plans to offer a range of courses and programs, including short courses and hands-on learning through real-life cases, simulations, and role-playing.

The fees charged by Al Qadir University

Al Qadir University in Sohawa, Pakistan, was established in 2021 by Imran Khan, who served as the country's Prime Minister from 2018 to 2022. The university is the brainchild of the Al-Qadir Trust (officially Al-Qadir University Project Trust), a non-profit organisation founded by Khan in 1996 with the dual aims of providing poverty relief and promoting education and healthcare in Pakistan.

Despite being registered as a trust, Al Qadir University does charge fees to its students. However, it is important to note that the university is not yet fully established, and it has not been recognised as a university by the Punjab government. Currently, it operates as the Al-Qadir Institute, affiliated with the Government College University and offering only two programmes: Management Sciences and Islamic Studies.

In its first year, the institute admitted 41 students, with 40 of those enrolled in Management Sciences and the remaining 20 in Islamic Studies. The following year, the intake increased to 60 students. According to Amjadur Rehman, who is in charge of the institute, only 10% of the total students are charged fees. The rationale behind this is twofold: to keep students motivated towards their studies and to help the institution become financially independent from donations.

The Al-Qadir Trust's expenses are covered by a businessman, as per their agreement. Initially, the businessman donated 458 kanals of land in Mouza Bakrala, Tehsil Sohawa, to the trust, which was then valued at 244 million PKR in 2019. The trust also received donations totalling 180 million PKR from January to December 2021.

While the university is still in its early stages, with a small student body, the fees charged by Al Qadir University are essential to its vision of becoming a self-sustaining educational institution.

The funding sources of Al Qadir University

Al-Qadir University is a project of the Al-Qadir Trust (officially the Al-Qadir University Project Trust), a non-profit organisation founded in 1996 by Imran Khan, who served as Prime Minister of Pakistan from 2018 to 2022. The trust was established to provide poverty relief and promote education and healthcare in Pakistan.

The groundbreaking ceremony for the university took place on 5 May 2019 in Sohawa, with Imran Khan laying the foundation stone. The trust's vision for the university is to create a global centre for Islamic scholarship and learning, exploring ancient and modern pedagogical practices within fields such as Islamic history, philosophy, art, finance, economics, psychology, and spirituality.

As a non-profit organisation, the Al-Qadir Trust relies on donations and funding from various sources to support its initiatives, including the construction and operation of Al-Qadir University. Here are some of the possible funding sources for the university:

• Government Funding: As the trust's founder, Imran Khan, was the Prime Minister of Pakistan at the time of the university's groundbreaking ceremony, it is possible that the Pakistani government provided funding or support for the university's establishment.
• Donations and Grants: The Al-Qadir Trust, being a non-profit organisation, likely relies on donations and grants from individuals, businesses, and other organisations to fund its initiatives. These donations could come from local communities, businesses, or international organisations that support education and poverty relief.
• Fundraising Events: The trust may also organise fundraising events or campaigns to generate financial support for the university's construction and ongoing operations. These events could include donations, auctions, sponsorships, or other activities that engage the community and raise funds for the university.
• Corporate Partnerships: Al-Qadir University may have formed partnerships with corporations or businesses that align with its values and mission. These partnerships could involve financial contributions, sponsorships, or in-kind donations to support the university's construction and ongoing operations.
• Endowments and Investments: The trust may have also established endowments or invested in financial instruments to generate long-term funding for the university. These endowments could be in the form of donations or investments that provide a steady source of income for the university's operations and future expansion.

These are some of the possible funding sources for Al-Qadir University. The university, as part of a non-profit trust, likely relies on a combination of these funding sources to support its construction, operations, and initiatives to promote education and Islamic scholarship.

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