KARACHI: Disappointed nazim seeks support from Sindh govt - Education sector affairs
By Our Staff Reporter
KARACHI, Dec 8: The City Nazim, Niamatullah Khan, said on Wednesday that the chief minister of Sindh should ensure that education sector affairs in the case of Karachi city were taken up judiciously
so that the whole country could be benefited in the befitting manner.
"People say that Karachi is mini-Pakistan, but I say it is a full Pakistan; full of economic activities, generating almost 70 per cent of the country's revenue and, as such, ignoring its problems and issues was tantamount to neglecting the whole country," he added. Educational activities in the city were of immense significance for the whole country, he remarked.
Speaking at a ceremony organized to hand over special funds to 28 colleges made functional during the last three years, the city nazim said that based on his experiences with the Sindh government, he could say that its attitude towards Karachi was not that good.
The ceremony, attended by a good number of college principals, was held to distribute cheques amounting to Rs11.6 million to the newly established colleges, which lacked educational facilities and teachers. The cheques were originally to be provided by the Sindh government. The nazim sanctioned the amount to colleges as grant in aid, diverting funds from other heads as well.
He lamented that a fund of Rs60 million for the city government lapsed last year only due the non-congenial attitude of Sindh government officials. While on the other hand, rights of the city government allowable under the devolution plan were also not being given to it.
"The chief minister, governor and chief secretary should look into the matter as to why schedules of new expenditures and other summaries pertaining to educational institutions and forwarded to the Sindh government were being kept pending."
The city government should be given the right to appoint teachers immediately, in line with the spirit of devolution, he said, calling upon the provincial government to give due attention to education and fully cooperate with the city government.
He said the city government had a very clear perception about education and that was why he (nazim) was taking extra measures to ensure better educational facilities for the children and youths of Karachi.
"I am using my discretionary funds and also giving grant in aid to the educational sector. This could have been spent on other sectors as well, but I see it as the only way to resolve problems and pull the young generation out of frustration."
The city government preferred to complete ongoing educational projects and buildings to save them from turning into dens for terrorists, anti-social, elements and drug addicts.
"Despite opposition from my officials, I continued to add around 10 colleges to the city every year, keeping in view the fact that almost 10,000 matriculates were being deprived of admission to colleges due to lack of seats," he pointed out.
He urged the college principals, who received the cheques, to hire cooperative teachers and non-teaching staff, and procure laboratory equipment and other educational accessories, saying the funds being provided to them were sufficient to cater to their needs for one year. "You must utilize the fund in a transparent way with the approval of respective college management committees," he added.
Referring to the concern raised by some teachers present at the gathering over denationalization, he said that he had no doubt that the decision to nationalize educational institutions in the 70s was a mistake, and now the decision to denationalize them again not less than a blunder.
He said that being the city nazim, he was duty bound to implement the Sindh cabinet's decision. But, at the same time, he was free to urge the Sindh cabinet to review its decision regarding denationalization, as it was creating concern among citizens, students and the teaching community, he maintained.
The Adviser to City Nazim on Education, Nasim Siddiqui, and Executive District Officer (Higher Education) Prof Rais Alvi also spoke. Later, briefing principals about ways and methods for utilizing funds being provided to them, the District Officer Education (Colleges), Prof M Asghar Khan, said that principals could pay a maximum of Rs4,000 and Rs3,000 to a cooperative teacher and non-teaching employee respectively.
It was learnt that the colleges established this year had been failing to start teaching, as they lacked teachers and furniture for the purpose. According to the statement of expenditures for the newly established colleges, a total of Rs3.4 million had been allocated for teaching staff and Rs4.1 million each for staff and furniture.
The colleges which received an amount of Rs0.5 million or more, included Degree Girls College, Block-K, North Nazimabad; Degree Girls College, Korangi 2-1/2; Degree Girls College, Shah Faisal Colony; Degree Girls College C-1, Malir; Degree Boys College, Gulistan-i-Jauhar; Degree Boys College, Korangi 2-1/2; Degree Boys College, Baldia Town; Degree Girls College, Landhi 3-1/2; Degree Girls College, Gulistan-i-Jauhar; Degree Girls College, Metroville Site; Degree Girls College, 7-C, Orangi Town; and Degree Girls College, Quaid-i-Millat.
