January 23, 2003	Thursday	Ziqa’ad 19, 1423

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VEHARI, Jan 22: Over 600 male and female teachers appointed on a five-year contract in the district have not been paid salaries for the last three months as the Finance department has raised an objection that recruitments were made without its approval.

The district Education Department had issued orders for the appointment of secondary school educators, senior elementary school educators and elementary school educators on vacant posts of SST, EST and PTC on Sept 30. The selected teachers assumed their duties on Oct 12, but as of now they have not been paid their salaries.

Dawn learnt that the Education department had made mandatory for teachers to get their documents verified by their respective education boards and universities. The teachers were informed verbally and the release of their salaries was linked to the verification of their documents.

Virtually, it is the responsibility of the government to get the documents verified after delay in salaries. Scores of teachers have now started getting their educational testimonials verified on their own expenses.

They alleged that a sum of over Rs3,000 were required to complete the verification process while they would get Rs4,250 to Rs 5,500 per month salary. They have demanded that the Punjab government should immediately release their salary bills.