LAHORE: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on Friday seized the record of 14 private school chains in Lahore and Gujranwala for their forensic audit in connection with the Supreme Court order.

FIA Punjab Deputy Director Khalid Anees told Dawn the record regarding fee, salaries and other affairs had been taken into possession and a primary report would be submitted to the Supreme Court in 15 days.

He said the schools included Beaconhouse School System, The City School, Lahore Grammar School, Learning Alliance, Lahore College of Arts and Sciences (Lacas), Resource Academia of Punjab Group of Colleges, Salamat School System, Alliance Resource in DHA Lahore and Gujranwala, Eden School System and City Public School, Gujranwala.

Editorial: Cut in school fee

The apex court had on Thursday ordered private schools to slash their fees by 20pc and refund 50pc of the fee they charged during the summer vacation.

The court’s bench comprising Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar, Justice Ijazul Ahsan and Justice Faisal Arab that was hearing a suo motu case about a fee hike capped the annual increase at 5pc and directed the Federal Board of Revenue chairman to scrutinise the tax records and accounts of private schools.

During the proceedings, audit reports of some schools were also presented before the bench. One of the reports said three directors were paid Rs8.3m each as monthly salary.

Our Faisalabad Correspondent quotes FIA Additional Director Sajid Akram as saying that during the raids conducted at the schools, computers, ledgers, folders pertaining to accounts and finance were seized. Notices were also issued to the administrations and accounts departments of these schools to produce further record.

Published in Dawn, December 15th, 2018