ISLAMABAD: Federal Cabinet on Tuesday formed a six-member cabinet committee to decide the fate of F-9 Citizens Club.

The committee has been tasked to submit its recommendation in the next meeting of the cabinet.

“Cabinet has constituted a six-member cabinet committee on the proposal of handing over Islamabad Metropolitan Club (F-9 Citizen Club) building to Federal Education Ministry for setting up National College of Arts (NCA) Islamabad Campus,” read a press release, federal government issued after the cabinet meeting.

It said Prime Minister Imran Khan had directed the committee to submit its recommendations in next meeting of the cabinet.

The cabinet on Tuesday passed the directive while discussing a summary moved by Federal Education Ministry, seeking control of Citizen’s Club building for setting up NCA Islamabad Campus.

The education ministry said the club building had been completed by Capital Development Authority (CDA) some years ago, but it is lying underutilized because of the Supreme Court’s ruling it gave in 2010, therefore, it should be given to education ministry for setting up the college.

However, CDA says that the building is a purpose built building and it could not be used for educational institutions.

CDA said the club would be made functional in near future.

The club is spread over 22 acre with 265,000 square feet of covered area.

Designed by renowned architect Nayyar Ali Dada it has many facilities such as restaurants, indoor pool, gym, lobby, aerobic area,fitness centre, etc.

In response to a letter of the education ministry, the CDA on November 5 said: “The Citizens Club building in F-9 Park has been purposely designed and constructed for indoor games and utilization for Club/sports activities. The Club is going to be made functional in near future,” read the CDA’s letter.

“This building is not suitable for any educational institutions,” read the letter, adding that building layout does not have provisions for classrooms and other educational requirements. Furthermore, the land use of F-9 Park does not allow for establishment of an educational institution there.”

The letter further said: “CDA does not support conversion of club building into an educational building located in a public park.”

Supreme Court ruled in 2010, when club’s building was near completion: “As a huge amount has already been spent [on the club] the CDA, with the approval of federal government, instead of abandoning the project, may utilize the building and other facilities for any public welfare project, like women university, medical/engineering college, science, technology or IT institution, etc.”

Later on, CDA completed the construction work and now club building is fully ready for occupancy.

After CDA refused to hand over the building to education ministry, the matter was placed before the federal cabinet on Tuesday.

Published in Dawn, December 2nd, 2020