May 24, 2007	Thursday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 07, 1428

RAWALPINDI, May 23: After their long struggle and a cold response from the government to their charter of demands, the Punjab Teachers Union (PTU) has decided in principle to boycott classes and examination from June 1.

The office-bearers of the PTU in a meeting finalised their future course of action.

The president of the Punjab Teacher Union, Jan Alam announcing their future plan said the teachers would boycott classes from June 1.

The district chief organiser of the Union Malik Muhammad Sabir, vice president Malik Zaheerud Din Babar, joint secretary Jamil Chaudhry and Raja Mubarak said the teachers would not remain idle and would continue struggle unless their demands were met.

RELIEF ASSURED: Federal Minister for Inter-Provincial Coordination Salim Saifullah Khan on Wednesday said government was utilising all available resources to facilitate teachers’ community as they played a crucial role in the national development.

He was talking to a representative delegation of All Pakistan Professors and Lecturers Association (APP&LA) led by its President Saraj Ahmed Kakar and General Secretary Sabz Ali Khan Marwat here.

The minister said government was fully alive to the challenges of new era where every nation was trying to edge out others by equipping their younger generations with modern education.

“In the upcoming fiscal budget, allocation for the education sector will be increased and the teachers would get maximum relief,” he added.

The delegation apprised him about their demands including upgradation of their scales, promotion on the pattern of Civil Services of Pakistan, inclusion of ad hoc allowance in the basic pay, house requisition and recruitment of teachers on permanent basis.

The minister assured them that he would take up their demands at all possible levels.—Agencies