Master plan commission could review varsity proposal

ICT official says new notification required for change in commission’s mandate

ISLAMABAD: The government has decided to task a federal commission to review the decision to convert the sprawling estate of the Prime Minister House into a national university.

The move could see the plan of turning the PM House into a national university face some delays.

Well-placed sources have told Express News that the federal interior ministry has already created a 12-member federal commission which has been tasked with reviewing the master plan of the federal capital considering the needs of the city for the next 20 years.

This review, which is expected to take at least six months to complete, is also overseeing the ways and means to regularise illegal constructions in the Bani Gala area, including Prime Minister Imran Khan’s private residence., and the rest of Islamabad

“The interior ministry has granted the commission powers to review the entire master plan of Islamabad,” the source said, adding that the notification issued in this regard does not explicitly state whether the proposed university to be built in the PM House is a mandate of the commission or not.

On the other hand, the master plan for the district includes planning for key government and private buildings, including the PM House, which the commission has to review.

Review panel will also look into conversion of PM House

Sources said that if the federal government only wants the commission to selectively review the master plan, then it should withdraw the terms of references (ToRs) for the commission issued previously, amend them and re-release them through a new notification.

This way, the commission can be restricted from reviewing the proposed university.

The current ToRs for the commission clearly states that its members will have to plan for education and health facilities in the capital over the next 20 years while reviewing the master plan.

A senior officer of Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) administration criticised the decision to form a university in the PM House. He explained his criticism rooted in security concerns since it would increase the security risk due to student activities.

He further added that in case the students ever decided to protest, they would end up blocking a key road in the Red Zone which could bring traffic in a critical area of the federal capital to grinding halt throughout the zone.

From a security standpoint, he argued that this idea was completely impractical, adding that if a varsity is to be formed, the security situation could not be neglected when the feasibility of this plan is made.

After his election, Prime Minister Imran Khan had vowed to convert government buildings for public use including setting up a university in the PM House and opening up the governor house in Lahore and Karachi to the public for recreation.

In October, it had been decided that the PM House would be turned into the Islamabad National University (INU) to serve as a centre of excellence for technical research orientation with a special focus on emerging technologies. It would provide high-quality research education at the level of MS and PhD; attracting the best faculty and students from all over the world, and serving to build a knowledge-based economy.

The proposed university would provide an integrated learning experience in the fields of social sciences, applied sciences and applied technology. It would have up to 2,000 research students.

The federal cabinet had decided to form a working group, led by Federal Education Minister Shafqat Mahmood, to streamline the proposal. Other members of the committee include Minister for Human Rights Shireen Mazari, Advisor on Institutional Reforms and Austerity Dr Ishrat Hussain, Advisor on Commerce, Textile and Production Dr Abdul Razak Dawood, Chairman Higher Education Commission Dr Tariq Banuri and two members to be suggested by the HEC.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 12^th, 2019.