THIS refers to the report `CDA proposes `unique` policy to shift private schools from residential areas` (April 3). The private school-owners` mafia is a very strong group engaged in a lucrativebusiness with low risk and minimum capital investment; just about the only business that does consistently well even when nothing else does.

The mafia has faced such warnings and policies in the last over 30 years, but has somehow or the other managed to hoodwink the authorities, and in the process have also got plots of land for establishing schools. Some branded schools have utilised these, and still vying for another plot of land, while others are still undecided.

The owners of private schools in residential areas are justifying violation of Capital Development Authority (CDA) bylaws on the plea that they are helping and lessening the government burden by providing education to the children of Islamabad residents. But at what cost? In fact, for most of the teachers, these schools are hunting grounds for roping in students for private coaching/tuitions in the evening, and charging exorbitant fees.

Other that the schools, the CDA has hardly done anything regarding guest houses, corporate offices, nongovernmental organisations (NGOs), clinics, parlours, tuition centres and showrooms that are active in various residential areas. In fact, a few embassies, which have been provided plots of land in the diplomatic enclave, are still functioning from houses in residential areas.They allneed tobe sentpacking.

Khaled Islamabad