HED 'faces pressure' of ministry coveting college land.

Byline: Imran Gabol

LAHORE -- The Punjab Higher Education Department (HED) is allegedly facing pressure from the Ministry of Youth Affairs, Sports, Archaeology and Tourism to allow it acquisition of 40-kanal piece of land belonging to a government college in Gulberg.

The ministry wants to construct a sports school on the land of the college situated at a prime location facing Ferozepur Road.

The sports ministry had sent a letter to the HED secretary in August last seeking a no objection certificate (NOC) for the acquisition of a 40-kanal piece of land of the Government College for Boys, Gulberg.

Sources in the HED said the land of an educational institution could not be used for any other purpose under the law. However, they said, the sports ministry had been pressuring the secretary to issue the NOC.

The college administration also opposed the acquisition of its land and made a representation to the HED secretary arguing that the construction of a sports school on the premises of the college was also against the judgement of the Supreme Court.

Sources said the officials of the sports ministry had already earmarked the proposed property for demolition and had been visiting it every other day as a pressure tactic.

The proposed site and buildings are currently being utilised for academic/ sport, administrative activities and residences of the principal, vice principal, hostel warden, hostel superintendent and Grade-IV employees. There is no vacant building or spare land on the premises of the college.

As many as 3,500 students are studying in the college that already requires more infrastructure and teaching facilities to run it at...