ISLAMABAD, Sept 25: Sixteen more schools run by influential people have been allotted land in different sectors of the city at subsidised rates for establishing their new campuses.

A senior official of the Capital Development Authority (CDA) told Dawn that the allotments were approved by the CDA Board on Tuesday.

These private schools have received plots measuring one to two acres at the rate of Rs7,450 per square yard.

That means the allottees would pay Rs35 million for one acre plot and twice that for a two acre plot. when the market price of one acre in H-8, H-11, I-14, I-16 and D-12 sectors, where they got the land, is said to be around Rs160 million.

As an additional facility, the school managements have to pay initially just 25 per cent of the cost and the rest in instalments.

On the face of it, CDA’s generosity to the private schools would look misplaced as their owners run them on commercial basis and charge hefty fees.

The official said that the CDA had received some 59 applications from different schools of which 16 were short- listed.

“We scrutinised these 16 applications under the government’s approved criteria and allotted plots for new schools,” the official added.

The authority had already allotted 43.16 acres of land to 31 private educational institutions in Islamabad for establishing their campuses during the last three years.

The educational institutions which have already acquired plots are: Bahria College, Naval Complex (plot No 84, H-11/4); Headstart School (plot No 80, H-11/4); Bahria Foundation College (plot No 83, H-11/4); ASAS International School (7-S, Street 141, G-11/4); Global System of Integrated Studies (plot No 5, H-11/1) and Minhajul Quran Welfare Society (plot 22, H-11/4).

Also, Modern Language School and College (4-S St 124, G- 11/4); Preparatory School (plot 4, H-11/4); Islamabad Science School and College (plot 23, H-11/4); Hill House Boarding School (plot 25, H-11/4); Foundation Public School (3-S, Street 141, G- 11/4); SLS Montessori and School (6-S, Street 124, G-11/4); Fountain Head School (plot 24, H-11/4); International Progressive School (plot 62, H-11/4); EMS High School (plot 57, H-11/4) and Roots Montessori (plot 68, H-11/4).

And Tameer-i-Millat Foundation (plot 69, H-11/4); Bright Model School (plot 56, H-11/4); Faran Public School (plot 61, H- 11/4); Modern Institute of Informatics and Management (1-S, Street 94, G-11/3); Khaldunia High School (2-S, Street 94, G- 11/3); Ghazali College for Women (plot 63, H-11/4) and Islamabad Children Academy (plot 64, H-11/4).

The following institutions were allotted plots in rural areas: National Grammar School (Park Road); Siddeeq Public School (Park Road); Lahore Grammar School (Park Road); Pak International Education System (Park Road); Pak Turk International (Park Road); Sajid Ideal Model High School (Park Road); Magic Roundabout Nurseries Pakistan (Modern Urban Shelter Project, Alipur) and Lahore Diocesan Board of Education (Modern Urban Shelter Project, Alipur).