KARACHI, Nov 8: The performance of Sindhi Adabi Board during the last one year was reviewed at a meeting, chaired by Sindh Education Minister Hamida Khuhro on Monday.

The annual budget of the board to the tune of Rs23.066 million was also approved at the meeting.

The board's secretary, Inam Shaikh, while presenting the annual performance report informed the meeting that inspite of financial loss, 50 rare books were newly published during the last year. He said that the board would publish another 100 rare books during the current year.

The meeting decided that the board's library in Hyderabad would be improved and linked with the endowment fund.

In order to overcome board's annual deficit of Rs13 million, it was decided that a delegation of the Sindhi Adabi Board under the leadership of Dr Hamida Khuhro would meet the Sindh Chief Minister with the request to get released a special grant of Rs20 million which had been announced earlier.

The meeting decided the board's press would be shut and its employees would be retired with financial benefits to overcome its deficit.

A three-member committee was also formed to inquire into the expenditure of Rs13 million shown for the repair of the press of the board.

It was decided that medical allowance of the employees would be enhanced from Rs300 to Rs500.

The standard of the board's monthly magazine for children Gul Phul, women's magazine Sartiyun and quarterly Mehran also came under discussion at the meeting.

It was stressed that the printing of these publications be made beautiful and attractive.

The meeting also decided that the board would publish Sindhi translation of literature in other languages and the writers would be paid attractive remuneration. -APP