Private Schools reluctant to leave residential premises despite SC orders   

• Government yet to move ahead with its three-year plan to shift private schools to purpose-built buildings

Owners of private schools, including major private school chains and Private Educational Institutes Regulatory Authority (PEIRA) are on the same page when it comes to defy Supreme Court’s orders to move over 359 private schools working out of residential areas to purpose built buildings.

In a recent turn of events, the government has failed to convince SC Bench headed by Chief Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali about its policy of making private schools shift in phases from residential areas to purpose-built buildings during three years time.

Many of these schools are situated in posh sectors of F-6, F-7, F-8, G-6, I-8 and others. The elite private schools like The City School, The Roots Millennium and International, Beacon House have also failed to shift their branches elsewhere. Although guarded by armed guards and protected with barbed wire on all sides, many of these schools lack emergency exits and other security features.

In their bid to preempt Supreme Court’s orders, the association of private schools in Islamabad bagged stay order from Islamabad High Court earlier. It is yet to be seen, how authorities will manage to vacate hundreds of schools within few days.

Even though, CDA in recent months has undertaken an extensive operation against non-conforming use of residential area, many commercial entities in residential areas including restaurants, saloons, shops, boutiques and showrooms were issued notices to move their businesses to markets and marakiz in different sectors.

However, schools, guesthouses and hostels were shown leniency due to the students and travellers. In October and November, operations carried out by enforcement and Building Control Section of CDA against hostels and guesthouses backfired. While, the students studying in colleges, universities from far-flung areas living in hostels resorted to protests, the owners and guards of guesthouses opted to confront CDA officials head-on.