ISLAMABAD: Residents of Bhara Kahu, a densly populated suburb of the federal capital, have been awaiting completion of a women’s college for the last 11 years.

A women degree college for Bhara Kahu was initially promised by former prime minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali in 2004. Eleven years later the structure of the building is complete but is lacking wiring, woodwork, plaster and paint.

The distance from Bhara Kahu to the nearest degree college causes inconvenience for women students who have to travel on private vans or unreliable public transport.

“Every day, hundreds of women from Bhara Kahu and adjoining areas make the long and expensive journey to colleges in the city centre on private vans. Students face the choice of paying between Rs3,000 to Rs4,000 in transportation charges or abandoning their education,” said Safina Insaf Shah, a senior lecturer at Islamabad Model College for Girls I-8.

Mohammad Naeem, a resident of Bhara Kahu, said that once the college was completed, it would make life easier for thousands of women in Bhara Kahu.

“This project seeks special attention of the government, with a little interest from the concerned departments; this college can be made functional in a few months. Otherwise, in the next session too, our daughters will have to travel to colleges in urban areas,” he said.

Even though construction began 11 years ago, it is yet to be completed

He said the local Member of National Assembly (MNA) from PML-N, Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, has been taking interest in the project and will perhaps ensure its completion.

A senior officer at the Federal Directorate of Education (FDE), who wished not to be named, blamed lack of interest by the education department.

“There was a lack of interest by the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid-i-Azam government and land acquisition took several years. Then finally in 2012, Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Nayyar Bokhari, who is Senate chairman, ensured that 32 kanals was acquired for the construction of the college,” he said.

The officer elaborated while the former Senate chairman pushed for the completion of the project, he received a cold response from the FDE.

“There is no shortage of funds. However, the FDE must supervise the construction work closely to ensure that it is completed on time. The Public Works Department (PWD) is the contractor and it’s the FDE’s job to oversee the work of PWD,” he said.

When contacted, Director Planning and Development of Federal Directorate of Education Taj Bhatti said efforts were being made to make the college functional before the commencement of the next educational session.

“There is a small dispute with local people over the boundary wall which is causing the delay,” he added.

Mr Bhatti “I think Prime Minister Jamali also approved initial fund of Rs21 million for the purchase of land for this project,” he said.

Published in Dawn January 19th , 2015

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