KARACHI, Jan 9: Alleging large-scale administrative and financial irregularities in Sindh Textbook Board affairs, local printers and publishers on Friday urged Sindh governor to immediately take control of the board and reshuffle the board of governors in the public interest.

Speaking at a press conference at a local hotel, Syed Ahsan Ali Rizvi, former Central Committee chairman of the Pakistan Publishers and Book-sellers Association, alleged that the board had failed to complete evaluation of books, in October last, for 2004 academic session, and the delay would result in unavailability of books to students in April, 2004.

According to him, the controlling authorities of Punjab and NWFP book boards were provincial governors and their teams monitored preparation and publishing of books for schools and colleges.

Contrary to that, in Sindh, Education secretary was the controlling authority of the STB, he added. He further alleged that in order to get commission on purchase of paper, the STB authorities were trying to import it from Indonesia, which would ultimately result in up to 50 per cent raise in textbooks prices from next academic session, starting from April, 2004.

"Even the Oxford Printing Press is using local paper for publishing books, but our provincial book board authorities are importing book-paper from Indonesia, to mint more commission," he alleged, adding that the board was deliberately delaying publishing of textbooks.

The publishers further alleged that the board authorities had not paid their bills, while contracts for publishing new books and other projects were being awarded to inexperienced people, who were offering commission to the board high-ups.

They urged National Accountability Bureau chairman, president and prime minister, to intervene to root out corruption and administrative irregularities in local institutions, demanding immediate removal of STB chairman and probe into boards affairs.-PPI