ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Thursday directed the Private Schools charging fees as high as over Rs 5,000 across the Country to reduce their fees by 20 percent with immediate effect.
A three-member bench of the Apex Court headed by the Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar announced an interim order in Islamabad while hearing a Suo Motto Case pertaining to fees of Private Schools.
In its order, the Court asked Private Schools to reduce their fees by 20 percent immediately. However, such schools charging less than Rs 5,000 fees are not liable to implement the Court’s orders.
The Supreme Court bench said that the schools cannot raise the fee by more than five percent annually. It said that the private schools will have to take permission from the regulatory authority if they want to raise the fee by more than five percent.
The bench also directed the schools to pay back 50 percent of the fees they collected in the summer vacations from the parents or adjust them in the coming months.
The Lawyers, the Deputy Auditor General and the Chairman Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) were also present in the Apex Court.
The Court also ordered the FBR to investigate income tax returns of owners of Private Schools and Directors.
Later the Apex Court adjourned the hearing till December 26.
