DERA GHAZI KHAN: Workers Welfare Middle School here has been waiting for its upgrade and construction of its own building since long, so that the children of local labourers can get the subsidised education up to the higher secondary level.

The school was established in 1986 in a rented building and since then it has been function there awaiting its own purpose-built campus. Presently, some 400 boys and as many girls are studying in the school.

Meanwhile, similar welfare middle schools set up at Rahim Yar Khan, Muzaffargarh and Joharabad have been upgraded to the higher secondary level despite having enrolled lesser number of students than those at the DG Khan school.

According to an official, though the government had allotted over 45-kanal piece of land for the construction of the DG Khan school’s building around two and a half years back, the authorities concerned did not issue tenders for the purpose.

The locally registered labourers have appealed to Chief Minister Usman Buzdar to order immediate upgrade of the school to high secondary level so that their children could get subsidised education till 12th class.

DG Khan Chamber of Commerce and Industries, talking to Dawn, backed the labourers’ demand and said the school’s upgrade and construction of its own building was a very important issue that should be resolved at the earliest.

Deputy Commissioner Muhammad Ali Ejaz said he would take up the matter with the authorities concerned to resolve the issue.

School’s Headmaster Muhammad Sharif said some land-grabbers had got a stay order from a court against the construction of its building on the land allotted for the purpose.

He added that he was also pursuing a case against illegal occupation of a piece of land allotted to the school in Kot Chhuta tehsil of the district.

He said the school’s upgrade was a long-standing demand of local labourers, which should be accepted without any delay.

Published in Dawn, April 14th, 2021