Regi Model Town: Govt allots 6.25 acres of land to ZAB Medical College

Area remains controversial amid threats from land grabbers

PESHAWAR:

The provincial government has approved the allotment of 6.25 acres of land for Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Medical College in Regi Model Town, still considered a disputed residential project and a sensitive area from a security point of view. It is located in the city on the border of Khyber Agency.

How the decision unfolded

The higher education department had requested the provincial government to provide 2.5 to 6.25 acres of land in the city to construct ZAB Medical College.

After some consideration, the government directed Peshawar Development Authority and the four towns of Peshawar to check vacant pieces of land within their respective jurisdictions.

To create more reasons for people to consider the residential scheme, PDA informed the provincial government that it could provide land for the varsity in Regi Model Town.

A PDA official, requesting anonymity, said the development authority allocated 62.5 acres for the Education Complex, for educational institutions in the scheme. In this complex, 6.25 acres have been allotted to ZAB Medical College.

“People are reluctant to construct on their plots in Regi due to a lack of security there. This is why it’s hard to make the residential housing scheme a success,” the official told The Express Tribune.

Compensation

PDA was forced to compensate owners of the property, around 7,000 acres of land, so it could build Regi Model Town. After paying, PDA decided to start mapping. However, “land grabbers” moved courts against PDA and demanded compensation again.

Once this was settled, another group came to the front and started claiming ownership of the land, said the official. The group threatened PDA as well as those who bought plots in the residential scheme.

To avoid another tussle, PDA paid the compensation amount to the group. However, the people from these groups have not backed down.

“The [Regi Model Town] project was supposed to cost Rs1.5 billion. But due to these factors, the cost has increased up to Rs7 billion,” the official said.

Another senior officer at PDA, requesting anonymity, said a summary has been forwarded to the chief minister about the situation. After approval, the land would be given to the Higher Education Commission.

State of security

When asked about security threats, the senior official said schools and colleges in the township would be provided complete security by PDA as well as the provincial government.

“In addition to our efforts,” he said, “Educational institutions would make their own security arrangements.”  The officer added, “However, some zones in the scheme are out of danger as the areas have been developed and inhabited, and commercial activities are taking place there.”

Special Assistant to Chief Minister on Information and Higher Education Mushtaq Ghani and Secretary for Higher Education Dr Attaur Rahman could not be reached for a comment.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 22^nd,  2016.