GILGIT, April 5: An NGO working in Diamer district has decided to close down its more than a dozen schools saying it is facing a financial crisis. President of Parbat Social Welfare Organisation Munnawar Khan told reporters that the organization, set up in 1994, had been working to raise awareness about education, health, environment, volunteerism and glacier grafting in the district of Diamer where overall literacy was below 15 per cent.

He said the organisation was left with Rs400,000 to run 13 educational institutions, mostly girl schools.

“We were given pledges and assurances by officials and private donors but have received nothing,” Munnawar Khan said, adding that over 700 girls were enrolled in the schools.

“Present literacy among girls in Diamer is below 10 per cent and it would go down further if the financial crisis persists,” he added.