Questions raised as Peira continues operations without chairperson.

ISLAMABAD -- Private Educational Institutions Regulatory Authority (Peira), which is supposed to look after the affairs of private schools of Islamabad has virtually become dysfunctional.

Currently, the authority has no chairperson and members and a deputy secretary and a deputy director are running the affairs of the authority. The office of chairperson of the authority has been vacant since completion of the tenure of Zia Batool in October last year.

Islamabad High Court (IHC) after terming her appointment made in 2019 'illegal', ordered for her immediate removal in July 2022. She filed an appeal and got stay orders against the said decision and meanwhile her tenure was completed in October. Since then, the authority has no chairperson.

Earlier, in December 2021, the federal cabinet had terminated services of both members Waqas Kayani and Imtiaz Qureshi. They filed a case in IHC and in July 2022, the court issued orders for their restoration. However, the ministry filed an appeal and got a stay order, which is still in field. While, both posts of members are vacant.

In October, the ministry advertised the post of chairperson and in response to the advertisement, a number of candidates had applied, but so far no appointment was made. The delay in appointment of chairperson and members is raising questions and badly affecting the performance of the regulatory authority.

On the other hand, the regulatory authority since the past few years, has badly failed to establish its writ as large numbers of unauthorised schools are still operating in Islamabad. Similarly, this authority also failed to do its primary jobs: regulation of private schools, determination of fee structure and fixation of fee structure.

This regulatory body is yet to determine fees of private schools even after the Supreme Court's judgement...