Aspiring students in Mera Bagwal may have to wait a little longer to realise their dreams
College building neglected for years by authorities to undergo significant reconstruction.
Two bungalows built for the college’s principal and vice-principal and several garages were demolished during the PML-Q's time in power, says locals. PHOTO: FILE
ISLAMABAD:
An educational building which was approved for a polytechnic college and constructed in 2003 has yet to see the appearance of its lifeblood and most prized asset — students.
Instead, unfortunately and rather embarrassingly, the building, situated in Mera Bagwal on the outskirts of Islamabad, has been turned into a site for cattle pens and a den for drug peddlers.
The ceilings, stairs and boundary walls of the structure, which has a large seating capacity in addition to a 120-bed hostel, library, and other facilities, are in tatters.
On December 6, 2011, it was reported that then-Federal Directorate of Education (FDE) director-general Atif Mehmood Kayani stated that a summary detailing proposals for establishing a cadet college, technical college or public school in the building had been prepared and would be sent to the prime minister for approval.
“The proposed institute would be run by the FDE along with a board of governors under the chairmanship of the prime minister. We feel that it will now be used for an even better cause,” he had said.
No breakthrough on any of the proposals was ever made, as evidenced by the current state of the building, which is now littered with garbage and carries the smell of rotten corpses.
Bhara Kahu Area Education Officer (AEO) Bashir Arain said the college, if made functional, would have made a long lasting impact on students of neighbouring areas.
A chequered history
The late Air Commodore (retd) Khaqan Abbasi, who served as federal minister during Ziaul Haq’s tenure, earmarked 232 kanals — 100 of which were donated by the area residents — for the college, but construction work only started in the late 90s and finished in 2003.
After the structure was built, it came under the control of the Public Works Department (PWD), who later handed responsibilities over to the Ministry of Capital Administration and Development (CAD).
“When it came under the PWD’s control, people who looked after the building’s maintenance ended up selling many valuable items and fixtures,” Zulfiqar Ali, a security guard for a local MNA, said.
After the 2005 earthquake, a UAE-based charity requested that the building be used for rehabilitation of disaster victims.
However, having been granted permission, the organisation, for unknown reasons, failed to inform the government about its decision not to go ahead with the plan, according to a CAD official speaking on condition of anonymity.
The miscommunication played into the hands of vandals and scavengers, who cut electricity wires, smashed doors and made off with chairs, fans, tube lights and other precious items.
Despite persistent efforts by locals to draw CAD’s attention to the ensuing chaos, all the latter did was post two security guards to protect what little was left of the structure.
Locals added that servant quarters, two bungalows built for the college’s principal and vice-principal and several garages were demolished during the Pakistan Muslim League — Quaid’s (PML-Q) time in power.
The story does not end there. Interestingly, the Interior Ministry had approached the Ministry Of Education in 2010 to discuss transforming the building into a jail of sorts. Surprisingly, on this occasion the local administration resisted the move, reportedly causing the interior ministry to backtrack on its original plan.
Atif Kayani, special adviser to the CAD minister, told The Express Tribune that around Rs20 million was needed to rebuild the demolished offices, develop a new sewerage system and establish a water pipeline from Simly Dam, among other reinforcements.
CAD Secretary Riffat Shaheen Qazi said the ministry was in talks with an NGO over the renovation and redevelopment of the building and expressed optimism that the college for which it was built would finally be up and running, over a decade after its scheduled opening.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 6th, 2013.
An educational building which was approved for a polytechnic college and constructed in 2003 has yet to see the appearance of its lifeblood and most prized asset — students.
Instead, unfortunately and rather embarrassingly, the building, situated in Mera Bagwal on the outskirts of Islamabad, has been turned into a site for cattle pens and a den for drug peddlers.
The ceilings, stairs and boundary walls of the structure, which has a large seating capacity in addition to a 120-bed hostel, library, and other facilities, are in tatters.
On December 6, 2011, it was reported that then-Federal Directorate of Education (FDE) director-general Atif Mehmood Kayani stated that a summary detailing proposals for establishing a cadet college, technical college or public school in the building had been prepared and would be sent to the prime minister for approval.
“The proposed institute would be run by the FDE along with a board of governors under the chairmanship of the prime minister. We feel that it will now be used for an even better cause,” he had said.
No breakthrough on any of the proposals was ever made, as evidenced by the current state of the building, which is now littered with garbage and carries the smell of rotten corpses.
Bhara Kahu Area Education Officer (AEO) Bashir Arain said the college, if made functional, would have made a long lasting impact on students of neighbouring areas.
A chequered history
The late Air Commodore (retd) Khaqan Abbasi, who served as federal minister during Ziaul Haq’s tenure, earmarked 232 kanals — 100 of which were donated by the area residents — for the college, but construction work only started in the late 90s and finished in 2003.
After the structure was built, it came under the control of the Public Works Department (PWD), who later handed responsibilities over to the Ministry of Capital Administration and Development (CAD).
“When it came under the PWD’s control, people who looked after the building’s maintenance ended up selling many valuable items and fixtures,” Zulfiqar Ali, a security guard for a local MNA, said.
After the 2005 earthquake, a UAE-based charity requested that the building be used for rehabilitation of disaster victims.
However, having been granted permission, the organisation, for unknown reasons, failed to inform the government about its decision not to go ahead with the plan, according to a CAD official speaking on condition of anonymity.
The miscommunication played into the hands of vandals and scavengers, who cut electricity wires, smashed doors and made off with chairs, fans, tube lights and other precious items.
Despite persistent efforts by locals to draw CAD’s attention to the ensuing chaos, all the latter did was post two security guards to protect what little was left of the structure.
Locals added that servant quarters, two bungalows built for the college’s principal and vice-principal and several garages were demolished during the Pakistan Muslim League — Quaid’s (PML-Q) time in power.
The story does not end there. Interestingly, the Interior Ministry had approached the Ministry Of Education in 2010 to discuss transforming the building into a jail of sorts. Surprisingly, on this occasion the local administration resisted the move, reportedly causing the interior ministry to backtrack on its original plan.
Atif Kayani, special adviser to the CAD minister, told The Express Tribune that around Rs20 million was needed to rebuild the demolished offices, develop a new sewerage system and establish a water pipeline from Simly Dam, among other reinforcements.
CAD Secretary Riffat Shaheen Qazi said the ministry was in talks with an NGO over the renovation and redevelopment of the building and expressed optimism that the college for which it was built would finally be up and running, over a decade after its scheduled opening.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 6th, 2013.