ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) on Friday formed a four member committee to inquire about plots given to private schools at subsidised rates.

The committee, headed by the director general of works, will submit its findings within 15 days so that the allotment of plots which remain undeveloped will be cancelled.

The Senate Standing Committee on Cabinet Secretariat had recently directed the CDA to take action against those who were not using the plots to build schools.

Committee members said the plots were allotted to people who said they wanted to establish schools and provide quality education at subsidised rates. They said several plots were being misused and schools that were built on some of the plots were charging exorbitant fees which, they said, was unjustifiable.

A CDA official said, “We will cancel the allotment of all such plots which were gives to people on subsidized rates but did not establish schools on them”.

He said the same thing had happened in the 90s and then again during PML-Q’s tenure when dozens of plots had been allotted for building schools at lower prices. Several of those plots, the officer said, were either sold or are being used for other purposes.

CDA spokesperson Ramzan Sajid said the committee would start working on Monday and would submit its report to the chairperson.

Meanwhile, the Islamabad district administration and the CDA held a meeting at the CDA headquarters to discuss the development of public sector schools.

According to sources the ICT shared their plans with the CDA for renovating and maintaining 20 public sector schools. Sources at the ICT said that after directives from the federal government the CDA has been tasked with developing 20 Federal Directorate of Education run schools.

Published in Dawn, October 23rd, 2015

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