ISLAMABAD, Dec 22: The Federal Education Ministry has decided to hand the incomplete building of a polytechnic institute over to the Privatization Commission (PC) for auction after spending Rs93.252 million in 18 long years, Dawn has learnt.

Federal Education Minister Javed Ashraf Qazi after due consultations with a technical committee recently found out that the scheme started in 1986-1987 was not viable. The committee comprised officials from Public Works Department (PWD), Planning & Development Division and other departments concerned.

The committee, headed by the education minister, after a number of visits to the site decided that the project was not viable due to unavailability of water and gas in the area. The water table in the area is too deep and even drilling is not feasible.

In a meeting held between the secretaries of the Planning & Development Division and education on April 27, 2004, it was decided that no new work be undertaken and no further steps be taken for re-tendering the abandoned work, as the money earmarked for the project was being used under various heads.

Zobaida Jalal, during her stint as education minister, also directed the Science and Technical Education Wing of the ministry not to buy machinery for the institute, the sources said.

During the tenure of the late president Ziaul Haq, the then education ministry had proposed establishing a polytechnic institute for boys in Islamabad at Mera Begwal, Bhara Kahu, because the twin cities had developed sufficient potential for employment of technicians, official documents available with Dawn showed.

Importing professional skills through full time courses in civil engineering, telecommunication, electronics and computer engineering leading to a three-year post matriculation diploma of associate engineer was envisaged with the setting up of the institute.

After initial study, the scheme was approved by the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) on March 18, 1987 at a capital cost of Rs59.560 million.

Later on, the scheme was revised at a capital cost of Rs134.906 million and the project was finally launched during 1986-1987. Until June 30, 2004 the actual expenditure on major components of the project stood at Rs93.252 million.

The physical progress carried out so far on the site includes a hostel, library, category-V flats and residences of principals and heads of the departments have almost been completed, while a multi-purpose hall and an underground water tank were the components that had been dropped from the original project.

An electrical transformer had also been installed. Two buses were purchased to pick and drop the students but these were later on handed over to the Polytechnic Institute for Women. The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has also been contacted to probe into the project.