KARACHI: Rs600 million for education sector reforms
KARACHI, Jan 31: Governor Mohammedmian Soomro on Thursday directed the local governments to carry out planning for development in their respective areas without any discrimination and on judicious basis.
He told them to make timely use of funds and accomplish the schemes as per specified time-frame.
He stated this while addressing a joint meeting of Nazims from all over the province, DCOs and secretaries of administrative departments at New Sindh Secretariat here on Thursday.
He said monitoring was being done to ensure development activity in all areas without any discrimination and in case of any discrimination, notice of the same will be taken.
The governor urged the Nazims and concerned authorities to work in the larger interest of the people, province and the country.
He said that in future, development funds would be released to local governments and its departments as per the amount utilized by them in a year.
He issued directives for taking steps towards promotion and betterment of education with the community cooperation.
The meeting was informed that School Management Committees throughout the province have been given Rs 1 billion for improvement in their schools while the federal government has provided Rs 600 million for districts under president’s programme for education and education sector reforms.
Secretary of Education Nazar Hussain Maher informed the meeting that under District Block Allocation, Rs 50 million have been provided for educational schemes.
Governor Soomro stressed the need for an effective implementation of projects for compulsory education up to primary level and free education up to secondary level.
He said that Rs 165.078 million worth text-books will be provided free of cost to deserving boys and girl students of primary education in cities and villages. In this regard, he said funds have been provided to districts.
The governor stressed on maintenance of school buildings, completion of boundary walls of girls schools and special attention on toilets.
Sindh Chief Secretary Javed Ashraf Hussain told the meeting that Rs 2.8 billion have been allocated for third phase of Khushhal Pakistan Programme in Sindh. In this regard, the concerned authorities have been directed to approve their schemes by Feb 10.
It was stated in the meeting that service quota for handicapped people in the government departments has been increased from one to two per cent and while making recruitment against vacant posts, on the spot opportunity will be given to them and in this regard no special programme will be launched.
Governor Soomro stressed the need for low-cost housing schemes in all the districts and said that progress in this regard be achieved with the cooperation of Katchi Abadi directorate.—APP
