Civic Agency’s Land Development Threatens HEC’s University Plans in Islamabad

ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority’s (CDA) aggressive land development initiatives are jeopardizing the Higher Education Commission’s (HEC) plans for establishing two public sector universities in the Kuri area. The CDA has begun carving out and selling plots on land that was previously allocated to the HEC, raising concerns about the future of higher education in the region.

The CDA was expected to address the issue of providing alternate land to the HEC during its board meeting on Monday; however, sources indicate that this agenda item was not discussed and will likely be postponed to the next meeting. In 2007, the HEC purchased 250 acres in Kuri from the CDA for over Rs1 billion, intending to develop the University of Engineering, Sciences and Technology and the National University of Law.

In a controversial move, the CDA, in collaboration with the Defence Housing Authority (DHA), launched the Margalla Enclave housing scheme, which encompasses approximately 18,000 kanals in Kuri. This development has encroached upon the land originally designated for the HEC, complicating the commission’s plans for the universities.

As the situation unfolds, the HEC is left in a precarious position, with the potential loss of vital educational infrastructure. Stakeholders are calling for urgent intervention to resolve the land dispute and ensure that the HEC’s educational initiatives are not further hindered. The CDA’s next board meeting will be crucial in determining the future of this contentious issue.