ISLAMABAD: Sticking true to his promise of protecting people’s tax money, Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday announced plans to convert the Prime Minister House in Islamabad into a top-quality postgraduate university.

Speaking on behalf of the PM, Education Minister Shafqat Mehmood said that Rs 470 million was being spent each year towards the maintenance of the prime minister’s official residence -- an amount which the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party thought could be utilized for greater public good. 

“I promise that I will protect the people's tax money. We will cut all of our expenses…the PM House, this huge mansion ... in a country where there are so many poor people, I would be embarrassed to live there,” PM Khan had said during his victory speech on July 26.

Detailing the plans for the educational institute, Mehmood said that the PM House – covering an area of 135 acres and inaugurated nearly two decades ago by former PM Nawaz Sharif – would be “unique in terms of its education in Pakistan”. 

Situated on the main Constitution Avenue in Islamabad’s highly-guarded Red Zone, the Mughal architecture-inspired structure houses a fruit orchard, five spacious lawns, several swimming pools and residences for security officers, staff and members; among other things.

Faced with a cash-strapped economy, PM Khan has so far avoided external borrowing and has instead resorted to austerity measures. Media reports also suggest that the present political administration wants to rationalize public spending and is willing to take hard-hitting financial decisions to fix the economic woes of the country. 

Keeping that in mind, Mehmood -- who also heads a committee to determine the future of government installations -- said that the Punjab House in Murree and a Punjab Government rest house in Rawalpindi could feature next on the list.

While the Murree structure – which requires Rs25 million each year for its upkeep -- could be converted into a tourist resort; plans are in place to either turn the rest house in Rawalpindi into an information technology center or hand it over to the National College of Arts. 

Mehmood also talked about plans to convert Governor Houses across the country into museums for public use.