RAWALPINDI: District education department has declared 270 educational institutions buildings in Rawalpindi dangerous which would be repaired by the provincial government in phases.

This fiscal, the Punjab government will release only Rs250 million against the education department’s demand of Rs2 billion.

The provincial government has allocated Rs8 billion this fiscal year for the repair of dilapidated buildings in 36 districts of the province.

A senior official of education department told Dawn that the provincial government had asked the education department to identify tumbledown buildings of the educational institutions in the district and need immediate repair.

Punjab govt will release only Rs250m this fiscal for their repair

“According to the survey, 384 buildings were found dangerous but the government asked to reduce the number as per 2014 survey in which 257 building were in dilapidated condition and after the discussion, the department sought financial help for repair of 270 buildings in the district and of them, 23 need immediate attention,” he said.

Government Jamia Islamia High School, Murree Road; Government Faizul Islam School, Trunk Bazaar; Pahalvi School, Faizabad; Mission High School, Raja Bazaar and others in small towns of the district.

The senior official said in all 23 educational institutions, the roof of the building had been collapsed and the children were shifted to other class rooms which were comparatively safe.

“Neither provincial government nor the ruling party’s representatives are interested in getting the funds released for repair of such buildings,” he said.

Punjab Teachers Association District President Ch. Saghir Alam told Dawn that the provincial government did conduct survey of the dangerous buildings but did not take measure to repair them.

“As a result of the schools buildings being in poor condition, the land encroachment cases increase. For example, the state land of Government Mission High School and Government Jamia Islamia High Schools have been eaten away but no action had been taken by the district administration,” he said.

When contacted, Executive District Officer Education Qazi Zahurul Haq admitted that the department had declared 270 buildings unfit for living and sought financial help from provincial government for their repair.

He said the government had introduced the Non-Salary Budget (NSB) system in the province and under which the government would release handsome amount to school council to do the repair and reconstruction work.

He said that the provincial government had allocated Rs16 billion for educational institutions across the province and Rawalpindi district will receive its share soon.

To a question about the immediate reconstruction of the dangerous buildings, he said the government had promised to give the amount for this purpose.

The EDO said funds would be released in phases and these buildings would be repaired within two to three years on priority basis.

He said the provincial government had taken notice of encroachment of school land in the district and was working to settle it.

Published in Dawn, August 1st, 2015

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