ISLAMABAD, Nov 27: After a delay of 24 years, the government has finally decided to establish the capital`s first polytechnic institute which would jointly be managed by Capital Administration and Development Division (CADD) and Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU).

In 1977, the polytechnic institute at Peshawar Road Rawalpindi had been closed down by Gen Zia-ul-Haq, and was converted into EME College.

Subsequently in 1985, the government decided to construct a polytechnic college at Mehra Begwal.

PC-1 for the project was initially approved in 1987 at a cost of Rs56.56 million, and the land for the college waspartly donated by the government and partly acquired as donation from local residents.

A building spreading over 232 kanals on Simly Dam Road was then constructed in 1989.

It was decided that technical education would be provided for computers, electronics, civil, mechanics and telecom.

However, the college could not become functional due to scarcity of funds and the building remained abandoned.

During the previous government`s tenure, former interior minister Rahman Malik was against the polytech-nic institute as he wanted the building to be converted into a jail.

On Wednesday, during a ceremony at CADD, it was decided that polytechnic classes would start in the building in collaboration with AIOU.

In this regard, the building has been handed over to AIOU on lease for 33 years and will be used for technical education.

The college will be run through a management committee comprising of officers of CADD and AIOU on a no profit/no loss basis.

Member National Assembly from Islamabad Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, who belongs to the PML-N, told participantsof the gathering that he had been working for the polytechnic college for the past five years.

`Rahman Malik wanted to convert the building into a jail but we resisted it, and finally the polytechnic college is going to start,` he said.

Secretary CADD Faridullah Khan said wasteful investments had plagued the public sector and there were several loopholes in the system due to which problems were increasing.

`There is a mafia of private educational institutions which is creating hurdles for public sector institutions.

Unfortunately, the mafia also has the support of political parties due towhich CADD cannot move against it, he said.

Vice Chancellor AIOU Dr Nazir Ahmed Sangi said 50 per cent discounted fee would be charged from students for the next two years and 8,000 students would be enrolled.

`AIOU is willing to invest Rs400 million in the college and will also help create employment opportunities because technical persons can be self-employed,` he said.

Joint Education Advisor CADD Rafique Tahir said around eight months ago, it was decided that the polytechnic college would be made functional.`We are planning to start classes from September 2014 and offer three-year diploma courses,` he said.

Director Information Technology AIOU Qasim Haider, while talking to Dawn, said the building had four blocks of hostels and two separate campuses for male and female students.

`It is the first technical college in the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi after the Rawalpindi Polytechnic College. Ministry of education had no funds to purchase furniture or appoint teachers. Therefore, AIOU has completed all arrangements to run the college, he said.