ISLAMABAD: The federal cabinet on Tuesday decided that the Federal Directorate of Education (FDE) buses would be run through the schools’ management committees on a cost-sharing basis.

During PML-N’s tenure, the FDE had procured 200 buses for schools and colleges, however, funds were not allocated for fuel, drivers and the help. As a result, most buses remained parked as the educational institutions were unable to ply them. The matter remained in the news for a couple of years and was discussed in several standing committee meetings.

The directorate through the Ministry of Federal Education forwarded a summary to the federal cabinet, seeking approval to run the buses on cost-sharing basis which the cabinet approved.

According to the summary, in 2017 the Finance Division proposed to run the buses on cost-sharing and the prime minister at that time had approved this proposal.

“The buses will be operated by the school management committees (SMCs) and the expenditure and revenue will be managed locally by them with notified monthly rates for students,” the summary read, adding that the Finance Division and Cabinet Division had been consulted and three options were discussed with them: running buses through a) public-private partnership model, b) cost-sharing and c) operationlisation through non-development expenditure for which Rs330 million will be required annually for hiring of staff, fuel, repair and maintenance.

The education ministry, in the summary, stated that both the cabinet and finance divisions proposed cost-sharing, which the federal cabinet approved.

These buses were purchased under the Prime Minister’s Education Reforms programme, launched by former prime minister Nawaz Sharif. Upgradation of these buses, under the project, was also launched, however, work on it slowed down during the current government’s tenure.

The government had earmarked Rs800 million to complete the project, but these funds are yet to be released.

Meanwhile, FDE along with the government is going to launch another mega project for maintenance of 170 schools and colleges, which were not covered under PM Education Reforms programme, and are in dilapidated condition.

Sources said Education Minister Shafqat Mahmood, on the request of the FDE, is making an effort towards starting this project as soon as possible.

Published in Dawn, February 3rd, 2021