BAHAWALPUR: As the new academic year has set in with effect from April 1, free of cost textbooks could not have been provided by the education department to students of government schools in the Bahawalpur district.

Expressing concern over the current situation, students and their parents have criticised the education department for their alleged poor performance. They said due to non-supply of new books, the students of primary, middle and higher secondary classes were facing problems as they missed their lectures as well as homework. However, in some schools, incomplete syllabus books have been provided to students.

There were also reports that in some government schools, teachers provided PDF files to those students who used mobile phones and directed them to get prints themselves from the market which they could not afford. The poor students without mobile phones are unable to get PDF prints.

Education CEO says books likely to be delayed for 10 more days

When approached, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of District Education Authority (DEO) Tahir Shehbaz said as there are some changes in the syllabus, books are likely to be delayed for 10 more days.

SENTENCE: Lodhran Additional District and Sessions Judge Rafaqat Ali Qamar has handed down nine-year imprisonment along with a fine of Rs80,000 to a drug peddler.

According to the prosecution, Jalla Arian police after arresting Abdul Latif had recovered 1,160 gram charas from his possession and submitted his challan to the court last year.

The AD&SJ while announcing the judgement on Thursday awarded sentence to him and in case of default of fine, he will have to serve six-month additional imprisonment.

Meanwhile, Lodhran police claimed on Thursday to have arrested seven suspected outlaws, including five proclaimed offenders.

Published in Dawn, April 14th, 2023