Pack up and leave, CCB tells schools and businesses in residential areas

Says educational institutions told not to start new academic year

RAWALPINDI: Chaklala Cantonment Board (CCB) has reiterated that it will not allow commercial activities in cantonment residential areas particularly private schools and colleges.

CCB reminded that it had issued 445 notices to various businesses, including private schools, and 170 leased properties for running commercial activities in residential areas.

CCB Additional Cantonment Executive Officer (ACEO) Naveed Nawaz said the warning notices will expire in last week of March. However, Nawaz said, schools were given grace period up to Mar 31 given to save the academic year of the students. New academic year starts April 1.



Once the notice period expires, CCB will issue a final notice under section 256 of the Cantonment Act, 1924. If the errant commercial entities still continue with their activities in residential areas, CCB will take strict action against them.

In accordance with the law, the board officials will first remove signboards of the schools, then disconnect their utility services and finally the schools will be sealed, he explained.

The ACEO said that CCB has informed the parents of likely action against such schools through newspapers. Nawaz said the cantonment has made it clear to the administration of schools and colleges being run illegally in residential areas that they will not be allowed to start new academic year.

The board would not bow before the owners of private schools and other commercial buildings illegally set up in residential areas, he added.

He said the notices were issued under the directives of Supreme Court. The civic body was implementing the court orders given on October 24 last year and it will implement the directives, he informed.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 25^th, 2018.