Buses for FDE schools still not ordered

The Federal Directorate of Education (FDE) and the Capital Administration and Development Division (CADD) are yet to decide on placing orders for buses for FDE-run schools.

Under the Prime Minister Education Reforms Program which was announced Dec 2015, the FDE was to get 200 buses for its schools and colleges in two phases.

Some 70 buses were provided to the FDE in the first phase, but the second phase of procuring 130 buses is facing delays, due to negligence on the part of FDE and CADD.

Both the organisations took a lot of time to complete the tendering process and after completing the process now, they have come to know that there is variation in the specifications outlined in the tender and bid, which has resulted in further delays.

A CADD official said that a few days ago, the ministry had objected to the successful bid, saying that according to the specifications, the buses should have luxury reclining seats but the bidder had specified providing fixed seats.

“There were some minor deficiencies in the bid and required specifications, but today, our committee proposed that we should go with the same tender or there would be even more delays,” said FDE Director General Hasnat Qureshi.

He said the committee will submit its recommendations to CADD for a final decision.

CADD officials say the ministry has Rs800 million for the procurement of buses and that it would be difficult to buy the buses in the next fiscal year if not done during the tenure of the current government.

Like the procurement of buses, the project for the renovation of 200 schools in the second phase of the reforms package has also been facing delays and so far, the PC-1 has also not been approved by the Planning Commission.

“We are hopeful that the Planning Commission will approve the project in its upcoming meeting,” DG Qureshi said.

Hamdard varsity holds convocation

The Hamdard University held its 14th convocation at its Islamabad campus on Wednesday.

Addressing the ceremony, Federal Minister for Education Mohammad Balighur Rehman said higher education is the government’s top priority. He appreciated the university’s contribution in the fields of pharmaceuticals, business administration and engineering and said the private education sector will help the government take the country forward.

Hamdard University Chancellor Sadia Rashid urged the fresh graduates to remain steadfast in their endeavours. She gave them the example of the university they had just graduated from, saying it had started in a two-room building.

The university’s vice-chancellor, Prof Dr Syed Shabib ul Hassan said the university grants scholarships worth Rs51 million to deserving students according to the vision of the late founder of the institution, who wanted to give students from remote areas a chance to get higher education.

Shields, degrees and medals were awarded to 282 graduates during the ceremony.

Published in Dawn, March 16th, 2018