KARACHI, April 26: Reserve pools of teaching and non-teaching staff have been formed for emergency duty on April 30, the day of referendum, said sources in the city education office.

It was learnt that all such teaching and non-teaching staff of schools and colleges who have not been assigned any referendum duty would be required to report at the reserve pool centres being set up at nine colleges, including two technical education institutions and offices of the male and female assistant district education officers at the 18 towns of the city government.

A senior official said decisions were taken at a meeting of district education officers, held with Executive District Officer (Education), Muhammad Raees Alvi, in the chair at his office on Thursday. About 10,000 teaching and non-teaching staff have so far been listed and assigned referendum duties, while the remaining 30,000 staff would have to ensure their presence at the reserve pool centres on April 30 from 7am to 5pm.

It was further decided that since the college staff were busy with training and other assignments in connection with the referendum, the lower-grade staff should remain present at their respective schools during working hours, till April 30. This is so that visiting teams from the Election Commission or others related to the referendum could be attended and facilitated regarding setting up of the polling stations at the premises of the educational institutions.

The college staff not engaged in any referendum duty are required to report at any one of the following colleges: Allama Iqbal College, S.M. Science College, Landhi Korangi College, Aisha Bawany College, Govt Jinnah College, Govt College for Men, Nazimabad and Islamia Arts and Commerce College.

The technical education staff are required to report either at Saifee College or Swedish Institute, while the school side staff are required to report at the offices of Assistant District Officers (male and female) at their respective towns, informed the senior office. Five similar centres have been allocated for defunct KMC schools, he added.

AGE CERTIFICATION: College principals started issuing eligibility certificates to all students who have reached the age of 18 and have not acquired the national identity card so far. The age certificates being issued by the college principals would be valid for casting votes in the April 30 referendum.