RAHIM YAR KHAN: On Wednesday when the temperature soared to 47 degrees Celsius, children as young as five to eight years old were found studying under the open sky in Maktab School, Nazirabad village of Liaquatpur tehsil, 86km from the district headquarters.

The school was established in 1996 and in 20 years only its boundary wall was completed with two bathrooms. However, there was no classroom for children, according to residents of Nazirabad.

They said they had complained to the authorities concerned several times through letters and calls, but to no avail.

Executive District Officer (Education) Rana Azhar claimed his duty was to ensure education through staff; missing facilities were the responsibility of government authorities.

Published in Dawn, May 19th, 2016