Punjab Rangers have been occupying a facility meant for vocational training for the rural women in Tarlai Union Council in the outskirts of the capital city.
The Punjab Rangers occupied the Women Development Complex (WDC) building seven years ago when they were deputed in Islamabad for maintaining law and order, but have been depriving hundreds of girls of vocational training facility, it has been learnt. Initially, the students were allowed to take classes in the complex’s garden but were later forced to vacate the premises.
The complex was established in 1990 to provide technical education to girl students of rural areas of the capital. The complex provides training in computer, glass painting, cooking, beautcian and knitting embroidery, among others courses.
Talking to The Express Tribune, WDC Project Manager Seema Tausif said that since the Rangers occupied the building, the administration struggled hard to continue imparting training to students at a nearby basic health unit (BHU), but the students could not be accommodated in the small space. She claimed that over 50,000 girls have been imparted vocational training since the complex’s establishment and is still receiving requests of admission.
The complex officials said that the administration is seeking to acquire a new building in the area where the student can be accommodated, while it is also planning to upgrade the BHU where the training classes are being held.
Residents of the Tarlai Union Council expressed serious concern over the deployment of Punjab Rangers in their locality and termed it a security risk. Muhammad Usman, a local resident, said that the Rangers should vacate the complex immediately because they are targeted by terrorists and make locals vulnerable.
When contacted, Deputy Commissioner Amir Ali Ahmed said that the complex administration has been offered a new furnished building with three rooms in the locality, but they are reluctant to move there as they want to shift to a prominent location, preferably on the main road. However, we have offered them a place very close to their previous building and they should accept the proposal, he added.
When inquired on Punjab Rangers presence in the area, Ahmed said, “I personally feel that the Rangers should not have occupied the WDC building as the vocational training it provides is beneficial for locals, but the Rangers are bound to be deputed there due to the poor law and order situation prevalent in the country.” He hoped that rangers will vacate the building once the law and order situation became a normal in the city.
Currently there are 10 women literacy centres situated in rural area of the city, out of which two are not functional due to inadequacy of teachers.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 25th, 2011.
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