Islamabad, Apr 1 (IANS): Though the private school industry has been flourishing in Pakistan, most schools here in the capital have no playgrounds despite high tuition fees being charged from parents, a media report said.

Lack of playgrounds is affecting students' physical and mental fitness, the Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) reported.

Due to low standards of education in state-run schools, people prefer sending their children to private ones. However, a lot of such private schools have been unable to fulfil the expectations of parents.

The report said the condition of public schools was somewhat better than private schools as their campuses were built on vast pieces of land unlike private schools operating in small buildings.

Parents have expressed concern over the shortage of playgrounds and have urged authorities to construct playgrounds at the earliest.

Hamza Abrar, father of a student, said most private schools were operating in small houses.

Such a situation has forced several schools to use parks as playgrounds, creating problems for residents, he said.

Shaheena, mother of a student, said schools without playgrounds should not be allowed to function.

Murtaza Noor, an official from the government's Higher Education Commission, said it was mandatory for schools to arrange cricket, hockey, football, basketball, volleyball and gymnastic competitions and physical training sessions for students.

He, however, did not explain why no action was being taken against schools that lacked playgrounds.