SWABI: The schools affiliated with the Federal Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education, Islamabad, have been facing shortage of books of 9th and 10th classes, teachers and students complained.

Students said they had yet to get books of physics and Pakistan Studies in the 10th class. Similarly, they said chemistry book of 9th class had disappeared from the market.

A bookstore owner told this correspondent on contact that these books were in short supply, adding that bookstores in Islamabad and Rawalpindi were not in a position to tell when these books would be available in the market.

HAJ TRAINING: Haj training for the intending pilgrims would be started from May 24 here in the district.

Speaking at a meeting of the Haj training council and district Haj committee here on Saturday, the participants said that the training was meant to make the pilgrims’ stay in Saudi Arabia comfortable and hassle free.

The meeting was chaired by Haj training council’s central president Mohammad Hayat Khan, and its district president Haji Saeedullah Khan and media in-charge Mohammad Shoaib and other members were in attendance.

The meeting was meant to finalise a plan for the training of intending pilgrims before Ramazan.

They said the first training session would be held at the hujra of Haji Shakirullah Khan in Kalu Khan on May 24, followed by another session at the same venue on May 31.

Selected candidates from both the government and private schemes would attend the training, with special arrangements having been made for women.

Hayat Khan said that two other training programmes would also be held before Ramazan, on June 15 and June 24, respectively. “The last training programme will be held at the residence of provincial senior Shahram Khan Tarakai,” he maintained.

He demanded of the government to resume the ship service for intending pilgrims because it was less expensive. He also demanded a strict monitoring system of the private Haj schemes.

Saeedullah Khan said as there was no female cameraman and a separate counter at the Mardan passport office, women seeking passport to go for Haj faced problems.

Published in Dawn, May 3rd, 2015

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