SAHIWAL, Sept 22: The target to achieve literacy rate looks bleak under the circumstances as some 72,000 children between five and nine years of age are not attending to schools.

This was given out by Muhammad Tausif of the National Commission for the Human Rights in the district assembly meeting here on Friday. Convener and Naib Nazim Malik Muhammad Faisal Langrial presided over the meeting.

Speaking on the occasion, District Nazim Rai Hassan Nawaz Khan said the district government was spending Rs1.25 billion on the education sector.

He said the government needed an additional amount of Rs2.16 billion for meeting educational expenses of 72,000 children.

In a unanimous resolution, the house made an appeal to the government for the provision of Rs1 billion more so that the literacy rate could be enhanced.

Earlier, the district assembly approved an action against a contractor for cutting more than sanctioned trees from the DHQ Hospital.

District council members — Shakeel Khan Niazi, Iqbal Sahoo, Ajam Khagga, Zafar Khagga and Tauqeer Zeeshan — strongly protested against Wapda meter readers for sending inflated bills to consumers.

On the move of members Muhammad Rafiq and Haji Tariq, the house approved the water supply and sewerage schemes for Kot Khadim Ali Shah locality.

Meanwhile, members also condemned the community board’s decision for allocating Rs40 million funds for the Sahiwal Club, Gymkhana Club and Sahiwal and Chichawatni’s Divisional Public Schools.

CASE: On the orders of a local court, a case was registered on Friday against an ASI for misuse of powers and setting free three dacoity accused.