MANSEHRA, Feb 8: The authorities have decided to constitute committees in 59 union councils of the district to monitor standard of education and implement court's verdict about fee concession to two siblings studying in the same educational institution.

In this connection a meeting was held here on Wednesday with Assistant Coordination Officer Ali Shahzad in the chair. Besides others, the meeting was attended by Executive District Officer (Education) Umer Khan Kundi, representative of private educational institutions Changaz Khan, representative of traders Mohammad Hanif and municipal administrators of the three tehsils.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Shahzad said that according to the verdict of Peshawar High Court the educational institutions were legally bound to charge half monthly fee from one of the two siblings studying in the same school or college.

He said that law would take its due course if administration of any school or college violated the verdict of the high court. "Private educational institutions are also bound to comply with PHC verdict until the Supreme Court disposes of the appeal filed by the owners of private schools and colleges," said Mr Shahzad.

He said that committees would be constituted in every union council of the district to monitor standard of education at private schools and colleges and implement the court's verdict with the support of district administration.

The representative of the private educational institutions said that they would follow the court's verdict and provide fee concession to two siblings studying in the same school or college. The meeting also asked people to submit their complaints with the ACO so that legal action could be taken against the schools and colleges for violating the court's orders.

BAN ON CONSTRUCTION:The landowners have threatened to defy Section 144, imposed by the district administration to restrict concrete construction in the 'red zone' of Balakot.

"We have no alternative source of income. If ban on construction is not lifted by the district administration, we will be left with no other option but to violate it," Mubarak Khan told a press conference in Balakot on Wednesday.

Flanked by Haroon Khan, Nawazish Khan, Naseem Khan and others, he said that they would hold rallies against ban on construction.

"People are without basic amenities but the government, instead of providing them facilities, is restricting them from concrete construction," said Mr Khan.

He said that government had initiated in 2007 a big housing project, New Balakot City, to settle people of the 'red zone' but it could not be completed.

He said that people were still living in makeshift houses and shelters in miserable condition. The government should first address their problems, he added.