Contrary to CM’s policy to uplift literacy rate by opening new private schools, the Lahore Development Authority (LDA) is planning to shut more than 1000 private educational institutions and disallow opening of new schools, colleges and academies on its 58 roads in the light of notification issued by District Planning and Design Committee under Rules-51 of LDA Land Use Classification (Classification, Reclassification and Redevelopment) Rules vide notification No. SO (H-II)5-2/81.
The plan also defies the Punjab Private Educational Institutions (Promotion and Regulation Ordinance) 1984 which aims to relax rules and regulations for the opening of new schools and facilitate those working already to help promote education. However, LDA officials said that policy would not impact educational institutions if they had paid their commercialization fee. The unexpected development has triggered the outpour of concern amongst students studying in the schools expected to be targeted by the move as well as educationists who are outraged over the proposed move.
All Pakistan Private Schools Management Association (APPSMA) has also announced to hold press conference on May 12 at Lahore Press to mobilize public opinion and sensitize government on the issue. Move promises a dark future: Talking to Pakistan Today, APPSMA central leader Adeeb Javaidani said that LDA issued the notification to close all schools on 58 roads in an unwise attempt to darken the future of students and undermine government policy to elevate literacy rates in the province.
He said that despite the fact, schools had been paying commercialization fee, LDA was poised to close schools, at a time when hotels, beauty parlours and other commercial activities go unchecked. “Among the schools likely to be shut down, some were established in 1978” said Adeeb who mentioned that issue had also been brought into the notice of CM Punjab Shahbaz Sharif to intervene into the matter in greater public interest. He claimed Provincial Law Minister Rana Sana Ullah has shown concern on the matter. “We have also filed a writ petition to stop LDA from taking any steps to endanger the future of schools,” Adeeb informed.
‘LDA not responsible’: However, according to senior LDA official, LDA had nothing to do with the notification neither had a role to issue it. “This is notification of policy prepared by District Planning and Design Committee headed by the Commissioner,” he added.
“Schools which have paid their commercialization fee will not be affected, however it is true that no new education institutions will be allowed at roads banned for commercial activities,” he added.
However, he admitted that other commercial units such as offices, clinics, dispensaries, chemists, hakeems, homeopaths, bakers, tea stalls, vegetable and fruit vendors, karyana and general stores, sports and electronics stores, gymnasiums and health clubs, display centers, showrooms, beauticians, utensil stores, cloth stores, glassware stores, estate agencies, garments outlets and restaurants would be allowed to remain operational.
Details of notification: The notification covers fifty eight (58) LDA roads/road segments which had been declared commercial earlier. The general restrictions shall apply for future commercial use, in addition to any specific restrictions imposed on that road. The notification does not affect the status of a building, plot, or land, for which the conversion fee has been paid under law applicable at the time. The notification does not cure or condone any violation of LDA Laws in respect of commercial land use or otherwise, all of which shall be dealt with in accordance with the applicable law.
All LDA building regulations shall remain applicable except where they conflict with a provision in the notification. In such a case, the notification shall prevail. The notification bifurcates the 58 roads into list A and list B. List A includes all roads where some commercial activities including schools are prohibited but some commercial activities are allowed. The roads include are Main Boulevard Garden Town, Main Boulevard Allama Iqbal Town, Main Boulevard Shadman, Main Boulevard Shadbagh, College Road Township, Hamdard Jail Road, Ferozepur road (segment I, II, II, IV), Shershah road Gujarpura, All-Madina Road Township, Bagrian Township, Approach Road Tajpura, Civic Center Garden Town, Model Town Link Road, Abdul Hassan Isfahani road (Faisal Town), Shahra-e-Awan-e-Tijarat, Link road Main Boulevard Garden Town and Wahdat road.
List B include all roads completely banned for all types of future commercial activity. These roads are Main Boulevard Sabzazar Scheme, Main Boulevard Gulshan-e-Ravi, Tollinton Market Road, Shadman,Zafar Ali Road, Gulberg 5, Campus Bridge Road, Garden Town, Qazi Eesa Road, Faisal Town,Shah Jillani Road, Main Boulevard PIA Scheme, Main Boulevard Johar Town (Maulana Shaukat Ali to Shaukat Khanum Hospital), Main Boulevard, Johar Town (Canal Road Link), Main Boulevard, Johar Town (Doctor Hospital Link), By-pass Rd Johar Town (Expo Center), Khayaban-e- Jinnah Road, Canal Bank Road (District Boundary starting from Wagha Side upto Thokar niaz Baig), Canal Bank Road (From Thokar Niaz Baig upto District Limit), Link Raiwind Road (From Raiwand to Aitchison Gate), Raiwind Road, Approach Road Shadbagh, Ferozpur Road, Chungi Amar Sadhu to Sua-Asil, Multan Road,
Defence Road, Humdard Jail Road, Township (Segment 1- Pindi Stop Shoukat Ali Road to Plot No. 1222-5-D-II ), M. Shoukat Ali Road (Segment 2- Model Town Link Road Junction to Railway Crossing), College Road Town Ship, Segment Ghazi Road to 1 & 16-5-C/II.
