PM's education reform programme needs additional Rs1bn.

Byline: Kashif Abbasi

ISLAMABAD -- The Prime Minister's Education Reform Programme launched in 2016 for repair and maintenance of schools in Islamabad is facing a delay and according to a revised PC-1 requires an additional amount of Rs1 billion for completion.

The project, a brainchild of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, was to complete in two phases. It was designed to facelift all the 423 educational institutions operating under the Federal Directorate of Education (FDE).

After the pilot project focusing only 22 schools, in 2017 the then government decided to launch the first phase covering 200 schools. However, so far, the first phase has not been completed.

Sources said out of the 200 institutions, work was completed in 130 and due to shortage of funds the remaining institutions were yet to be repaired.

Project director Waqas Farid told Dawn that a revised PC-1 seeking Rs1.1bn for the upcoming fiscal year had been submitted to the ministry of education.

First phase launched by PML-N govt in 2017 to repair schools in capital is yet to complete

He said work was also carried out in all remaining 70 institutions and in many of them it was at the final stage but could not be finished without getting funds.

'Recently, we submitted the revised PC-1, seeking Rs1.1bn,' he said and added that the previous PC-1 was of Rs2.7bn and because of price escalation now the project required Rs1.1 billion more, including Rs500 million, which are yet to be released in accordance with previous PC-1.

He said 130 schools after completion of work had been handed over to the FDE and the school heads.

On the other hand, the delay in completion is creating problems for students and teachers.

'It's difficult for students to get education during construction work. This project should be completed on a priority,' said Malik...