RAWALPINDI: After a survey of the city, the Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) has issued notices to 63 educational institutions located on main roads, asking them to regularise their buildings by paying a 10 per cent fee for commercial use of the premises or shift to a different place.

These educational institutions are operating in Asghar Mall Scheme, Mohanpura, Saidpur Road, Satellite Town, Murree Road, Dhoke Khabba and other areas.

RDA Director General Saif Anwar Jappa told Dawn that the civic body had completed the survey of the schools and colleges to regularise them through the payment of an annual fee and parking arrangements on their premises to avoid traffic congestion on roads. According to Mr Jappa, the private schools and colleges would have to pay 10 per cent of the rental value of their building, as per the official rate of the property, for regularisation.

He said that the RDA wanted to start an operation against the ‘illegal’ educational institutions but Commissioner Liaquat Ali Chattha decided to give them time till the end of the academic year.

The decision was taken so that the educational activities of the children were not interrupted by the RDA action and they could complete their academic year without any hindrance. He said that in light of this decision, it is said that all school owners who have built schools in residential buildings without approval are directed to immediately regularise the schools as per the law or stop this unauthorised use. In this regard, they will submit an affidavit within 15 days to the RDA that they were ready to legalise their schools or stop the “illegal use of these buildings”.

“If the school buildings are not regularised then the owners of these buildings will have to pay a fine of Rs1,000 per day until the use of the residential building for the purpose of a school is regularised,” the official said.

Similarly, if the affidavit is not submitted within 15 days, legal action will be taken against the institutions.

On the other hand, due to the presence of private schools on the main roads of the city, traffic was badly affected and commuters faced trouble. Most private schools and colleges failed to establish parking areas on their premises and people had no other option but to park vehicles on main roads.

Last week, Commissioner Liaquat Ali Chattha asked the district and cantonment authorities to take action against the educational institutions, hospitals and other commercial centres on main roads to arrange their parking space. He asked all the schools, hospitals and other commercial establishments to manage their parking within their premises, adding that strict action would be taken against the organisations that did not provide parking space. Mr Chattha directed the Rawalpindi Municipal Corporation and the traffic police to clear the roads in the city areas of encroachments for efficient traffic management and open them for traffic.

Published in Dawn, January 8th, 2024