PESHAWAR, Oct 12: The Schools and Literacy Department of the NWFP has allowed Bannu and Tank districts to purchase furniture for public-sector schools from open market despite a policy that binds all departments to buy these items from a semi-government furniture manufacturing centre, sources said.

The government had issued an order in 2003, directing all line departments to purchase furniture for schools, colleges and other public-sector institutions from Peshawar-based Pak-German Wood Working Centre. The decision was aimed at curbing irregularities and making the centre a profitable entity.

The provincial government had released an amount of Rs200 million in the fiscal year 2004-05 for the Schools and Literacy Department for purchase of furniture for high schools in the 24 districts of the province.

The sources said that contract was awarded to the Pak-German Wood Working Centre in June, and the amount was paid to the firm in advance. Each high school would get 94 table-chair sets.

However, the department concerned suddenly exempted Bannu and Tank districts and allowed the district education authorities to purchase furniture for high schools from the open market, they said.

Education authorities in district Bannu, the home town of Chief Minister Akram Khan Durrani, received Rs8.8 million and those in Tank district Rs4.3 million for the purpose.

When approached, Chief Planning Officer, Schools and Literacy Department Afsar Syed said earlier Pak-German Wood Working Centre had failed to supply furniture in some of the districts. Therefore, the department allowed the authorities in Bannu and Tank districts to acquire the same from the open market, he added.

However, an official of Pak-German Wood Working Centre – which has branches in Karak, Dera Ismail Khan, Chitral, Timergara (Lower Dir) and Mansehra districts - contradicted the statement of the chief planning officer.