The Food Department of the Cantonment Boards has failed to ensure the provision of clean and healthy drinking water at educational institutions situated in jurisdiction of Cantt Boards. According to the details available, the Food Department of the Rawalpindi Cantonment Board (RCB) in February 2017 collected water samples from 75 private schools and sent those to the laboratory for quality test. Sixty percent of the samples were found unfit for consumption, the laboratory report revealed. Heavy fines worth Rs 25,000 were imposed on each school whose sample was found unfit for consumption; however, only nine schools submitted the fine. Sources privy to the development revealed the very next day after this operation, a delegation of the Private Schools & Colleges’ Management Association (PSCMA) met RCB chief executive officer. They assured the CEO to install water filters in each school during summer vacations. The delegation also requested the CEO to stop the operation regarding water, sources added. Despite passage of more than one and a half year, the food department of RCB never visited any private school to ensure the provision of clean and healthy drinking water at educational institutions. According to available information, more than 2,000 private schools and colleges are operating within the jurisdiction of the Chaklala and RCB, while more than 1,100 of them are affiliated with PSCMA. Sources said that the Food Department of Chaklala Cantonment Board never collected samples of drinking water from private education institutions within their jurisdiction. The in-charge of the food department Yasir Iqbal refused to share any information regarding this issue. RCB Food Department Head Waris Bhatti admitted that due to the involvement in other activities, private schools and colleges were never visited following that operation. PSCMA President Malik Naseem said, as per commitment, water filters are installed in all private schools within the jurisdiction of Cantt Boards to ensure the provision of safe and healthy drinking water to students. Published in Daily Times, August 28th 2018.