ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) is scheduled to review more than 200 applications submitted by private school owners today.
As per the details, these applications request plots on a rental basis from the civic agency instead of obtaining them through auctions.
To relocate private schools from residential areas, the CDA has introduced a new policy aimed at providing plots to private parties on a rental basis.
The CDA received a total of 245 applications from across the country in response to its advertisement.
A five-member committee, headed by the Director-General of Planning, will convene on Wednesday to assess and scrutinize these applications.
According to a CDA official, as the civic agency provides plots to government schools at subsidized rates, it is more appropriate for private schools to acquire plots through a competitive process.
In 2019, after extensive consultations with stakeholders, the CDA finalized a policy regarding private schools, outlining measures to address private schools, especially those operating in residential areas.
The proposed policy included a three-year grace period for private schools in residential areas to relocate.
Additionally, it also suggested the establishment of Montessori and daycare centers in every sector. The policy recommended permitting private schools in Zones 2, 4, and 5 on private land.
Similarly, corresponding bylaws were drafted to regulate school construction in these areas, with the CDA facilitating school management in obtaining NOCs and approvals. However, the policy did not mention the rental of plots.
In 2008, the CDA allocated plots to private schools under a scheme that was marred by controversy and scandal.
Of the 19 plots allocated, only three were declared legal by the courts, leading to the cancellation of the remaining 16 plots.
At that time, the CDA was supposed to deal exclusively with Islamabad-based schools, but it ended up allocating plots to schools from other cities.
In April of this year, the CDA board approved a policy to provide plots to private schools on a rental lease basis.
Under this policy, plots will be leased to private schools based on a 100-point formula, with 20% of the points allocated to schools operating in houses and 25% to schools charging fees ranging from Rs. 5,000 to Rs. 15,000.
The board also imposed restrictions, ensuring that schools cannot increase their fees by more than 5% per year.
Waseem Hayat Bajwa, Member Planning at CDA, explained that the committee would evaluate the applications transparently during Wednesday’s meeting.
He emphasized that the plots would be allocated through a rental model, ensuring that school owners abide by predetermined fee limits and contractual agreements with the CDA.
Source: DAWN
