A row between the Provincial Reconstruction, Rehabilitations and Settlement Authority (PARRSA) and its contractors has made the future of around 86 schools destroyed by terrorists in Swat bleak.
Differences between the two sides developed when the PARRSA asked the contractors to execute its projects through the consultants of international standards, but the contractors took the plea that they had been awarded tenders in accordance with the Communications and Works Department 2009 schedule. The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) allocated $36 million for the reconstruction of terror-affected schools in Swat soon after a successful military action against militants in 2009. Some of the schools were repaired after which the C&W Department of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa issued tenders for 86 schools as per its 2009 schedule.
When contacted, the high-ups in PARRSA claimed all the contractors were bound to execute the scheme as per international standards. “While issuing tenders, they had been directed to hire the services of the consultants of international standards,” they added. On the other hand, the contractors demanded the government announce at least 50 percent increase in the rates. PARRSA Contractors Association President Mansoor Durrani claimed that the PARRSA conditions had increased 100 operation cost of the schemes. He added that work on the 86 schools had been stopped.
Several contractors alleged some elements within the PARRSA wanted execution of all these projects through non-government organisations just to fulfil their own nefarious designs. Mansoor and Shafique of the PARRSA Contractors Association revealed the PARRSA and NGOs were wasting more than 60 percent of the funds on transportation, consultancy and other irrelevant activities besides spending 100 percent allocations on the execution of the schemes as per the C&W schedule.
The fate of these 86 schools has fallen prey to uncertainty due to the differences between the PARRSA and its contractors whereas the education department is insisting on early completion of their construction. According to the education high-ups, around 400 schools have been destroyed by militants in Swat. They added the number of the students of the affected schools was 200,000.