Out of reach: Despite completion, new college building remains non-functional

Technical education director claims construction of college has not been completed, locals claim otherwise.

PESHAWAR: Three years have passed since the new building of Government Commerce College was constructed on Ring Road at Landi Akhund Ahmad, but the government has yet to make it functional.

Although Technical and Commerce Education Director Professor Shakil Ahmed claims construction work has not been completed, locals and students claim otherwise. They say construction is complete, but the building is being kept locked for reasons unknown.

During the government of Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal, 30 to 40 kanals of land was purchased for constructing a new building for the college. Construction began in 2008 when the Awami National Party came into power; the estimated cost of the project was Rs145 million.

According to the plan, construction had to be completed by 2011 and the previous government had promised to open the college for students in the same year.

Locals claim the building was completed in 2011 and comprises 50 rooms, including offices, classrooms, three spacious halls for examinations and conferences, hostels and well-furnished bungalows for the college principal.

According to locals, painting and other final work on the building has also been completed, but students remain missing.

“The building is being kept locked and unutilised and several portions have been damaged. Sometimes people break in and steal things from the premises,” said Gul Khan who resides in the locality.

When contacted, Technical and Commerce Education Director Professor Shakil refuted these claims. He blamed the Communication and Works (C&W) department for the delay. “The C&W department neither completed the construction nor handed it over to the technical and commerce education department,” he said.

Had the C&W department given the project to us, several problems would have been resolved, claimed Shakil. Senior officials of the department refrained from commenting on the matter. However, a junior official confirmed construction has been completed.

Kifayat Ali, a student at the Faqirabad campus of the college, said a large number of students are being accommodated in a single building, causing several problems. “These issues can be resolved if the new building is made functional and students are divided between the two,” he said.

According to Ali, classes are being conducted in two shifts at the Faqirabad building, inconveniencing both teachers and students.

Ring Road connects several villages and areas with Peshawar. These villages include those situated on Bara and Kohat roads, and areas such as Hayatabad. If the government opens the new college building, it would help in promoting education on the outskirts of Peshawar.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 30^th, 2014.