University Town issue: Sealing of institutes to affect education of thousands

No alternative arrangement has been made yet

PESHAWAR: The future of around 50,000 students is in the dark due to the recent crackdown on educational institutes in University Town in the city by University Town Municipal Administration. The move was spearheaded by the district nazim.

The Town-III municipal administration has issued notices to all commercial outlets, including educational institutions in University Town, to vacate the space in residential areas. The order was given by PHC in March 2015.

However, if the educational institutes are sealed with any alternative arrangements for students, their studies would be affected. Besides students, at least 5,000 individuals, who have been working in these institutes, will lose their jobs.



One of the students’ parent told The Express Tribune that on the one side Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf-led government was highlighting education as its core agenda, while on the other its town nazim was sealing all educational institutes. He added alternative arrangements should be made for the schools of their children, keeping in mind the security concerns as parents could not sent their children to schools outside University Town.

Unclear decision

While talking to The Express Tribune, a local government official said the town nazim has been instructed by Peshawar district nazim Arbab Muhammad Asim to not bother administrations of educational institutes till the provincial government allocates land for them or find an alternative solution.

He added the deputy commissioner of Peshawar along with the district nazim and some minister of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf were aware of the consequences and have time and again instructed the town nazim to not take such actions. But, he added, the town nazim and town women councillor Ayesha Bano were doing everything in their capacity to seal these institutes.

In this regard, the district nazim wrote a letter to the town nazim, a copy of it is available with The Express Tribune. The letter stated the city district government was committed to implement the court orders –the educational instructions fall under the ambit of the court order.

“The relocation of educational institutes would be a prudent decision before closing them down so as to avoid havoc amongst parents and students,” the letter read. Future of students cannot be placed at stake as they are the future of this nation, it was further mentioned.

This is an extremely alarming situation and the authorities concerned must step in before it is too late. The letter cited the matter has been discussed with the provincial government and separate location for the educational institutes has been recommended. It stated a “viable plan” for the purpose will be worked out.

Two-way matter

Through the letter, the district nazim asked the town nazim to convey the decision of the provincial government on  the issue of educational institutes and request the court for time to solve the matter.

While talking to The Express Tribune, town nazim Arbab Muhammad Ali said he received the letter from the district nazim, asking to request the court about the educational institutes’ issue. But, he questioned, what the provincial government was doing for the last the three years to resolve the issue when residents were begging to get their residential areas vacated by commercial outlets.

He said he will convey the district nazim’s message to the court, but will never request for extension to the educational institutes. However, he said, if the court gave an extension then the town administration will comply with the court orders.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 5^th, 2016.