KARACHI, March 29: Sindh Chief Secretary Fazlur Rehman has called upon teachers to avoid indulging in trade union or labour union activities in view of their respectful and honourable status.

The Chief Secretary was talking to a delegation of the Sindh Professors and Lecturers Association, led by its President Prof Riaz Ahsan, which met him at his office on Wednesday.

Fazlur Rehman said that sanctity of teaching profession should be maintained as knowledge was the legacy of Prophets.

He said that he had great respect for teachers and was always prepared to serve their cause and solve their problems legally. However, he made it clear that it was also the responsibility of teachers to perform their duties with honesty, sincerity and hard work to ensure a safe and bright future for their pupils.

While exchanging views on the problems of college teachers, the chief secretary sought a detailed survey report from the Sindh Professors and Lecturers Association on a complaint regarding over-staffing in certain colleges and shortage of teaching staff in other colleges.

It was decided that education, finance and services departments would expedite the cases of teachers’ moveovers and promotions as per laid down rules and regulations.

The meeting decided that steps would be taken in cases of lady lecturers travelling daily for Karachi and Hyderabad for duty in accordance with rules and regulations.

The issues relating to ad hoc teachers, college SNEs, ban on transfer of teachers appointed in 2002, up to date seniority list, appointment of permanent principals and other matters also came under consideration.

In order to sort out problems regarding posting and transfer in districts without approval of competent authority, it was decided that the services department would immediately issue a circular making it clear that no transfer and posting would be ordered without the approval of competent authority and enforcement of law would be ensured.

The meeting was also attended by Secretary Education Ghulam Ali Pasha, Secretary General Administration Abdul Qadir Mangi, Special Secretary Finance Shoaib Ahmed Siddiqi and EDO Higher Education Prof Dr Rafiq Siddiqi.—APP