"It is unfair to carry out such action against private institutions without providing them with any alternative – this is a very important issue," Private school owner Syed Mehr Shah. PHOTO: FILE
The deadline for private schools and hospitals to relocate from residential areas should be extended, said Chief Minister (CM) Pervez Khattak on Thursday.
On September 25, the Peshawar High Court (PHC) had issued directives to “immediately” seal all buildings used for commercial purposes in University Town and Hayatabad.
According to a government handout, the CM directed the local administration to “soften” the deadline in order to mitigate hardships being faced by students and patients.
CM spokesperson Sheraz Paracha told The Express Tribune the government will comply in full with court orders in this matter. Paracha explained the orders will be carried out in three tranches – ensuring educational institutes and hospitals are the last to be shifted out of the residential areas, in line with the PHC’s orders. These particular social sector organisations will be shifted in the very end as they cater to the general public, explained Paracha.
Earlier at a news conference at the Peshawar Press Club on Thursday, school owners termed the closure of private institutes in University Town an ‘anti-education step’ by the government and demanded an alternative – relocation.
School owner Syed Mehr Ali Shah maintained the Peshawar Development Authority had closed down around 30 private schools in University Town. This was done in compliance with the PHC’s verdict.
The decision would affect more than 15,000 students and result in high unemployment, said Shah. “We are very concerned about the future of the students studying at these schools and colleges as well as the job security of teachers and administrative staff.”
However, the school owner noted the action was being carried out on legal grounds and is being complied with: “We are respecting the decision of the superior judiciary.”
Flanked by owners and heads of private schools, students and their parents, Shah explained the academic session had only recently kicked off when the orders were issued to close down all such institutes in University Town and Hayatabad.
“It is unfair to carry out such action against private institutions without providing them with any alternative – this is a very important issue.”
“We are ready to rent buildings at any suitable location if the government would identify these,” claimed Shah. He appealed to the PHC to grant some leniency till plots and suitable premises were allotted by the government and schools are constructed elsewhere.
“This would be a small mercy to save the future of students and prevent unemployment on a large scale,” requested Shah.
Responding to questions about poor facilities and high tuition fees at private schools, principals and owners said they were for the creation of a regulatory body which would keep check. Things like fee structures, academic facilities and the education system of private sector schools and colleges in the province could be monitored by such a body, added the stakeholders.
They expressed concern over the crackdown by police and security forces, claiming they are ready to relocate if the government provides other suitable locations. “We don’t want to disrupt peace by taking to the streets, we just demand the government help us with alternatives,” said one of the school owners present.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 11th, 2013.
COMMENTS (1)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
1732868310-0/BeFunk_§_]__-(72)1732868310-0.jpg "article")
1732869272-0/diddy-(47)1732869272-0-165x106.webp "article")
These people knew exactly what they were doing, they disregarded the laws and now complaining about relocating to commercial areas where they were suppose to be in the first place. I say the government should give them some short time frame to vacate these premises and if they don't then lock up their institutions. These institutions are there to make money and it does not matter how they do it , it is also time to monitor these schools and hospital for their standards by the concern authorities. Uphold the laws for once and make K-P a law abiding province so the other provinces could emulate K-P.