Much-needed: Capital to get eight new model colleges

As many health projects planned for ICT.

ISLAMABAD: The Capital Administration and Development (CAD) division is likely to go ahead with the construction of eight new model colleges in Islamabad despite receiving no allocation for them in the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) for 2013-14.

According to sources in the division, there are 17 projects for different schools and colleges falling under Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT). Another eight projects include the expansion of schools and colleges in different areas of the city.

An official requesting anonymity, told The Express Tribune, projects costing less than Rs60 million are to be approved by the CAD secretary and two members from the Finance Division.



One of the revised projects is the expansion of Federal Government Model College for Girls Kot Hathyal which was previously estimated to cost Rs75 million where as the revised expenditure is Rs250 million.

The expansion of this college is unavoidable, according to the official, as it is in a shambles due to unavailability of funds and adequate land for establishment of new blocks.

The expansion plan includes increasing the number or classrooms and raising the fleet of buses for over 1,500 students who come from far-flung areas of Bhara Kahu. It also involves constructing a separate room for drivers, a first aid facility centre, installment of CCTV cameras, fire alarms and adequate fire extinguishing system.

The official stated that CCTV cameras are being installed for the purpose of vigilance as eloping of girls and kidnapping incidents have been reported from the premises of the college.

He said the construction of new model colleges will begin this year as the city is in dire need of new colleges due to the heavy influx of children seeking admission in the model college system, initiated by former primer minister Yousaf Raza Gilani.

Additionally, the official said that a national breast cancer screening programme will be launched for conducting tests of women at colleges to curb the growing disease considered the leading cause of women fatalities in the world. He said eight new projects are also being finalised in the health sector for ICT.

These include a safe blood transfusion centre at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), a critical care unit and cardiac surgery centre.

A new hostel will also be constructed for the doctors of PIMS and Polyclinic, the two government-run hospitals of Islamabad.

The extension of Polyclinic Hospital continues to hang in the balance as at the eleventh hour, the final proposal was withdrawn by the Finance Division, he stated. “The reasons are unknown, although everything was alright till the inclusion of the project in PSDP.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 1^st, 2013.