RAWALPINDI: The Rawalpindi Cantonment Board (RCB) is yet to move private schools out of residential areas, even though the Senate Committee on Defence directed it to do so over three months ago.

The Senate committee had on Feb 8 directed the cantonment board to move the private schools on Peshawar Road, in Westridge and Allahabad. The committee was told that notices were served to 32 schools which will be moved after the annual exams.

RCB spokesperson Qaiser Mehmood told Dawn the directives to move schools before June had not been received by the cantonment board from the Ministry of Defence yet.

However, he said, notices had already been served to private schools to move their campuses from residential areas and that there were given a deadline to do so. He said action will be taken against them when the directives are received.

Residents of cantonment areas say the increase in the number of private schools has led to traffic congestion and it is difficult for them to even get out from their houses in the mornings and afternoons.

A resident of Peshawar Road, Mohammad Tufail said the streets were lined with cars all day and that it was difficult for residents to park in front of their homes.

He said the traffic congestion on Peshawar Road from Charing Cross to Chur Chowk has now become routine and poses problems for commuters, especially motorcyclists.

A resident of Allahabad Mohammad Farooq said private schools should be established in areas where they do not pose problems for the locals.

“Cars parked on main roads have led to locals avoiding using them,” he said, adding that there should be an authority which holds school administrations accountable for disturbing everyday life for locals and that schools should be established in commercial areas where they have ample space for parking.

When contacted, Private Schools and College Owners’ Association President Malik Ibrar said it was not possible for private schools to move because they cater to a large number of students.

“Most people prefer to enrol their children in schools near their houses and it will not be possible to change their locations. There are more than 500 private schools which fulfil government requirements for security and education,” he said.

However, Mr Ibrar said schools established in small streets should be moved and that their owners were looking for more suitable locations. Traffic problems can be solved by the traffic police and not private schools, he maintained.

Published in Dawn, May 16th, 2017