ISLAMABAD: The federal government did not allocate a budget for the third phase of the Prime Minister’s Education Reforms Programme.

The Capital Administration and Development Division was seeking Rs2.9 billion for the third phase, in which 200 schools were to be renovated.

However, Rs845 million was earmarked for the ongoing second phase for the programme.

Rs845m was allocated for ongoing second phase, Rs2.65bn for other educational programmes

The program was started for the 423 government school and colleges in Islamabad in Dec 2015 by former prime minister Nawaz Sharif.

Under the first phase, 23 schools and colleges were renovated and work is under progress on 200 other schools in the second phase while the remaining were to be renovated under the third phase.

In the proposed budget, 2.65 billion was earmarked for eight ongoing and 15 new educational schemes.

The new schemes include the construction of a boundary wall in Islamabad Model Girls’ School I-14, constructing a building for Islamabad Model School Tarlai, construction of a building for Islamabad Model School Bian Nullah, the establishment of Islamabad Model College for Boys Margalla Town, the establishment of Model College G-13 and the establishment of Islamabad College for Girls G-14.

The construction of a model college in G-15, Islamabad Model School for Boys in Multi-Garden, establishment of Smart Schools in ICT, the upgrading of Model College Bhara Kahu and renovating Islamabad Model College for Boys G-9 are also among the new education.

Mega development schemes

The federal government has earmarked Rs500 million for the conduction of water from the Indus River System of Tarbella Dam for Islamabad and Rawalpindi.

According to sources, the PC-I of the project estimates its worth at Rs70 billion. However, the government has allocated Rs500 for the initiation of the project which will likely be completed in the next five years.

The Capital Development Authority (CDA) and the Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad are depending on this project to overcome the shortage of water in the city which is being supplied about 60 to 65 million gallons daily when it needs over 110.

Islamabad signal-free corridor

The government allocated Rs7 billion for the third phase of the expansion of the Islamabad Highway from Koral Road to G.T Road.

The prime minister had recently ordered to release Rs100 million to start this project. The CDA is to complete this project in two years.

Published in Dawn, April 28th, 2018