Substandard material halts school project

HARIPUR:

Construction work at the Gordki Middle School in Haripur has been halted after the alleged use of substandard materials in the project funded by the World Bank.

According to sources, the construction project came under scrutiny after local residents raised concerns over the cement, bricks and other materials being used in the new school building. The provincial leadership took immediate action on public complaints and serious concerns, ordering an immediate suspension of work and issuing a notice to the contractor.

The project was being carried out under the supervision of the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa's Education Department with financial assistance from the World Bank. However, during the construction work, the local population and dignitaries of the area expressed concerns over the deteriorating quality of cement, bricks and other materials used and filed a complaint. Residents said no compromise could be made on the quality of an educational project linked to the safety and future of children.

Provincial Parliamentary Leader and Chairman Haripur District Development Advisory Committee (DDAC) Akbar Ayub Khan took notice of the matter and sought explanations from the relevant authorities. He directed the Education Department and district administration to conduct an impartial inquiry in the matter.