Chief of Army Staff General Syed Asim Munir has appreciated American-Pakistani businessman Tanweer Ahmed for donating $9 million to Islamabad’s National University of Science and Technology (NUST) to build an IT Tower.
In a statement issued by the military's media wing, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Army Chief General Munir is currently on a tour of the US where he has met with defence counterparts apart from US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. He also met a large number of Pakistani diaspora communities.
"The COAS met Mr Tanweer Ahmed, who graciously donated $9 million for NUST in the field of IT development in Pakistan," the statement said, adding that the COAS appreciated him and said "Pakistan is proud of heroes like him."
In a reception hosted by the Pakistan Embassy in Washington, DC, COAS interacted with the Pakistani community.
"Pakistani diaspora anywhere around the world is held in high regard as they are ambassadors of Pakistan and contribute significantly to Pakistan in varying domains," the statement added.
In a separate note of appreciation, the army chief appreciated Ahmed's donations to help Pakistan during natural calamities and promote information technology (IT) education in Pakistan.
The COAS wrote to him: "Your support to NUST in establishing Science and Technology Park, expansion of campuses and partnership for assisting financially challenged students are praiseworthy initiatives, meeting due recognition. Indeed, through this venture, not only will NUST gain further strength but also enable many students to bear their expenditures."
The COAS added: “Your efforts in the domains of humanitarian assistance and interest in academia of Pakistan is a true reflection and favour for the people of Pakistan.”
Last week, the Indus University, on the recommendation of Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori, had conferred an honorary doctorate degree on Ahmed to acknowledge his services to Pakistan's IT and health sectors.
Ahmed has built a modern hospital in Sialkot which provides free medical care.
In an interview, he said he was inspired by Army Chief General Asim Munir’s passion and vision for Pakistan’s IT sector.
"I was excited and thrilled when I came to know about the vision of COAS General Syed Asim Munir, who is passionate about the IT Sector. I believe that with the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) in which the Army has assumed an active role, that’s a brilliant approach to unlock the true IT potential of Pakistan.”
Ahmed said on his contribution to NUST, “I have conceived the idea of NUST Information Technology (IT) Tower for the youth of Pakistan for which COAS General Asim Munir is leading the effort to harmonise our endeavours. The steps taken by General Asim Munir are commendable and inspiring. No army chief has done as much as Gen Munir has done in just one year for the IT sector of Pakistan and for a clean national economy. He has taken excellent steps to put Pakistan’s economy on the right course."
The entrepreneur said Pakistan has the essential infrastructure available, along with significant public sector investment in resource development.
“Pakistan has untapped digital potential of $59.6 billion (Rs9.7 trillion) and FinTech potential of $35 billion by 2025. The IT base potential is evidenced by a 47% growth in freelancing, which stands at fourth in the world. Around 64% of Pakistan’s population is youth under 30 years of age which is our biggest resource,” he added.
The Houston-based businessman donated $9 million to NUST to help students from impoverished backgrounds access quality education through scholarships.
NUST has confirmed that Tanweer Ahmed has entered into a partnership with the university through an Endowment Fund for unprivileged students, which will benefit nearly 200 students who would be able to get scholarships every year. The $9 million is one of the single-largest donations by any overseas Pakistani for any Pakistani varsity.
Ahmed made his fortune in the US while working in the food industry. He said that only quality education can transform Pakistan into a country producing people like Sam Altman, Larry Page, and Elon Musk.
Ahmed said he would be taking additional initiatives to help Pakistan’s IT and quality education sectors.
He said: “The infrastructure being built at NUST will enable Pakistan to host global IT companies who can establish their IT development and IT-enabled services base in Pakistan with NUST IT Tower providing a jumpstart. We have to contribute to Pakistan’s prosperity, bit by bit, cent by cent. We Pakistanis can do it, and we must come together to serve our nation.”
Ahmed said deserving students will get scholarships annually from his $9 million endowment fund through the Higher Education Commission (HEC). The system to obtain scholarships will be purely on merit and aimed strictly at those students who cannot afford quality and expensive education.
Ahmed is an American-Pakistani businessman, investor, entrepreneur and philanthropist who works with major companies, not-for-profit organisations and hospitals. He is the owner of the largest cricket complex in Houston, the Prairie View Cricket Complex 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 many food chain franchises such as Pizza Hut, Taco Bell and KFC.
He owns California’s largest transport company and has business interests in the energy sector and medicine industry. Tanweer Ahmed is credited for taking over $50 million in aid to Pakistan during the 2022 devastating floods in Pakistan.
Originally from Sialkot, he started on a humble note in the US when he migrated as a student and worked in a restaurant. He was then promoted as a manager at the same restaurant. He then started his own restaurant business and has set up multiple businesses and successful companies.
Ahmed says that overseas Pakistanis owe it to Pakistan to serve the country of their origin and identity. “We owe to our motherland because we are where we are because of Pakistan. Our best contribution can be made through empowering our youth with modern education and knowledge. I am happy to play my part in helping Pakistani youth in achieving their goals in life.”