ISLAMABAD: The education ministry is exploring options to secure funds for the construction of new schools in Islamabad, considering either requesting financial support from the federal government or seeking approval for the auction of several plots to raise capital.
Sources within the ministry revealed that while the preferred option is government funding, if that proves difficult, the ministry may propose auctioning some of the 24 vacant plots allocated for school construction in various sectors.
“The auction idea is in its preliminary stages. We plan to present this proposal, along with a request for a special grant, to the education minister next week for approval,” said a ministry official. If the minister gives the green light, the ministry would then approach the federal government to direct the Capital Development Authority (CDA) to proceed with the auction.
The plots, initially allocated by the CDA for public schools, require the CDA’s approval before any auction can take place, officials explained. The CDA has informally advised the ministry to seek the federal cabinet’s permission for such a move.
If approved, the ministry will present the proposal to the federal government, and if it grants permission for the auction, the CDA will be asked to handle the process. “We don’t intend to manage the auction ourselves, so we would request the CDA to carry it out,” an official stated.
Officials from the Federal Directorate of Education (FDE) emphasized the urgent need for new schools in the capital, noting that the cost to build a primary school is approximately Rs60 million.
“If the government permits the auction, that’s acceptable. Otherwise, we will request Rs1 billion for constructing all 24 schools on these vacant plots,” an FDE official said, adding that even auctioning one plot would generate enough funds to build all the schools.
In Islamabad, even smaller plots can be worth billions, with the cost of constructing a primary school having risen to around Rs60 million today. In 2019, six schools were built with a cost of Rs42 million each.
The official argued that auctioning some plots would be a more viable option than pursuing a public-private partnership model, which had been attempted in the past. “Ideally, the ministry should request Rs1 billion for the construction of 24 schools,” the official added.
The federal government has supported the education ministry in the past, including approving a Rs978 million project aimed at enrolling out-of-school children. However, officials claim that this funding could have been better utilized to build around 20 new primary schools.
It’s worth noting that last year, the education ministry attempted to transfer a valuable 21-kanal school plot, worth Rs20 billion, to a private firm under a public-private partnership, but the Islamabad High Court issued a stay order on the matter. Now, the ministry appears to be steering away from this model and is seeking either government funding or the auction of select plots to build new schools.
