New education complex to end inter-dept property dispute

ETPB likely to take over contested property in prime commercial area

RAWALPINDI:

The offices of the district education department will be shifted to the Government Agricultural Boys College, where a new education complex will be completed by the end of this year. A total of Rs150 million, or over 50 per cent of the total budget of Rs295.8 million, has been released on an emergency basis for the construction of the district education complex.

This will end a bitter dispute between the education department and the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) over the British era property that has served as the offices of the education department over the last 60 years. Law enforcers have sealed the property three times already this year.

The education complex has operated from the property that covers an area of 5 kanals 12 marlas. It is located in one of the most expensive areas of the city on the Murree Road, adjacent to Committee Chowk. The education department personnel claimed that ETPB wanted to take over the property as ‘influential real estate developers’ wanted to raze the property and construct a commercial plaza.

Currently, the education complex houses the offices of the director and deputy director of the colleges department, and the chief executive officer of the Rawalpindi District Education Authority (DEA). It also has the office of the literacy department. Ten other sub-offices of these four departments operate from the 35 big and 21 small rooms spread around the property.

Hasrat Singh Haveli

It was built in 1860 and boasts Mughal architecture. An affluent Sikh man of Rawalpindi, Hasrat Singh, had built it in memory of his uncle for charitable purposes.

The building has stood the test of time, with the quality of wood apparent from the windows and doors that remain sturdy to this day. The rooms are spacious with large windows and apertures on both sides that provide plenty of light. They stay cool even when it is hot.

The education department contends that this land was purchased by them in 1973 for Rs180,000 in an open auction.

The two entities have now decided to abide by the decision on the chairman of the ETPB Lahore.

However, with the issuance of funds for the new education complex, it seems that the haveli will be taken over by the ETPB.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 11^th, 2023.