LAHORE: The Punjab government established first-ever Nawaz Sharif School of Eminence to introduce a new model of public education reform in the province under public-private partnership to transform neglected government institutions into modern learning centres at tehsil Jalalpur Pirwala of district Multan.
The project was launched under the Punjab Education Foundation (PEF) which marks a structural shift in public education across the province.
The foundation introduced the Nawaz Sharif Schools of Eminence initiative under the education policy direction of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, aiming to raise public-sector schools to international standards.
The Jalalpur Pirwala school became operational following the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on May 5, 2025, between Multan Commissioner Aamir Kareem Khan and PEF Managing Director Shahid Farid. Developed under the PPP model, the institution now spans more than 400 kanals and functions as a fully upgraded educational complex serving approximately 1,200 students from primary to secondary levels across Jalalpur Pirwala and the nearby areas.
According to officials, the transformation includes modern classrooms, academic systems, trained teaching staff and transparent management structures, resulting in rising enrollment and renewed parental confidence in government education.
The progress of the initiative was further reviewed during a steering committee meeting held on Jan 5, 2026, chaired by Provincial Minister for Education Rana Sikandar Hayat. The committee examined proposals submitted by various organisations for establishing Schools of Eminence under the programme.
PEF MD Shahid Farid briefed the committee on the project’s objectives, implementation framework, and sustainability model. All applications and presentations were evaluated strictly according to approved terms of reference, with emphasis on developing institutions aligned with international education benchmarks.
The Punjab government considers the Nawaz Sharif Schools of Eminence initiative a core component of its broader education reform agenda, focused on innovation, accountability and public–private collaboration. Officials say the model is expected to expand across the province, setting new standards for governance, quality, and sustainability in public-sector education.
Published in Dawn, January 10th, 2026.
