32 unauthorised private schools in Cantt area to be closed in 3 months

Islamabad

The Senate Standing Committee on Defence was informed on Wednesday that 32 unauthorised educational institutes operating in residential areas of Westridge, Cantonment Board of Rawalpindi, would be closed down within three months.

The committee meeting chaired by Lt Gen (r) Salahuddin Tirmizi was apprised by Defence authorities that population of the Rawalpindi Cantonment was about one million, and five Cantonment Board schools, 23 government schools, and 32 unauthorised private schools educational institutes were operating there.

The Defence authorities also informed that final notice would be served to the unauthorised schools by the Rawalpindi Cantonment by February 15 giving them a three-month time to close their operations and shift from the residential areas.

Following which the unauthorised schools will be sealed, locked down and not allowed to operate in future.

The private schools operating in residential properties at Westridge-I, II and III include SLS School at Halli Road, International Islamic University and School at Halli Road, Smart School at Westridge-I, Beaconhouse School at Halli Road, The City School at Westridge-I, Radely Elementary School at Khursheed Alam Road, Global Educational Academy at Khursheed Alam Road, Oriental Grammar School at Westridge-I, Dar-e-Arqam School at Peshawar Road, Indus Valley School and Learning at Atta-ul-Haq Road, The Educators School at Atta-ul-Haq Road, Scholars College at Atta-ul-Haq Road, Bahria Foundation College at Westridge-I, SLS School at Abek Road, Westridge Academy at main Iqbal Road, Dar-e-Arqam School at Abek Road, Roots International School at Chairing Cross Westridge-I, Ambrose Hall School at Westridge, Bahria Foundation College at Westridge-I, The Nation School near China Hospital, The Grammar School at Old-6 Avenue-I, Bahria Foundation College at main Peshawar Road, Peak Montessori High School at Shah Piyara Road, Charter House Montessori School at Shah Piyara Road, The Westridge Academy at main Allahabad Road, Growing Years High School at main Allahabad Road, Peers School of Excellence Academy at main Allahabad Road, The Cantt Cambridge School at main Allahabad Road, Ali Foundation at Ashiyana Chowk, Albayan School System at main Allahabad Road, SLS Montessori at Raja Akram Road, and Dar-e-Arqam School at Valley Road.

The committee was of the view that the schools should be given appropriate time to complete the ongoing educational session to facilitate students studying there.

The action is being taken on a complaint of Senator (r) Muhammad Zahid Khan that private schools and educational institutions are operating in Westridge in violation of the Cantonment Board's commericalisation policy.

The Senate Standing Committee on Defence discussed the issue of residents eviction from Cantonment areas of Loralai in detail and formed a sub-committee to visit the site and prepare a report accordingly.

Lt Gen (r) Salahuddin Tirmizi will be convener of the sub-committee Muhammad Javed Abbasi and Atta-ur-Rehman its members, while Sardar Muhammad Azam Khan Kusakhel, and Muhammad Usman Khan Kakar will be special invitees.

The Defence authorities clarified that the residential quarters were allotted in the areas to civilians under a tenancy agreement not on any lease.

The body was informed that recently the Station Headquarters initiated action against the tenants of 34 quarters who were found involved in illegal immoral activities.

Out of 34 they said 31 quarters had been vacated and the vacation process of remaining three was underway adding the law abiding citizens tenants are peacefully living in remaining 263 quarters in Risala Lines and no such action has been initiated against them.

Originally they said there were 258 quarters which had been sub-divided into 371 small quarters out of which 74 were with FC and Lorali Scouts and 297 were given to civilians on rent.

The committee was also briefed on working of the Cantonment General Hospital (CGH) Rawalpindi where currently 67 doctors, 163 paramedical staff, three administrative staff, and 105 other workers were performing their duties.  The hospital has 23 departments with collective capacity of 199 beds, the authorities said.

During the last year they said surgeons carried out average five operations per day and 850 patients visited the hospital daily for treatment.

The committee was apprised that a medical college would be set up in the hospital.

Among others the meeting was attended by Ilyas Ahmad Bilour, Hidayat Ullah, Atta-ur-Rehman, Col (r) Syed Tahir Hussain Mashhadi, Lt Gen (r) Abdul Qayyum, Muhammad Javed Abbasi, Farhatullah Babar, Sehar Kamran, Brig (r) John Kenneth Williams, Chaudhry Tanvir Khan, Sardar Muhammad Azam Khan Musakhel, Muhammad Zahid, and Muhammad Usman Khan Kakar, besides Secretary Defence Lt Gen (r) Zameer-ul-Hassan Shah and other senior officials.