KARACHI, June 13: The Sindh Textbook Board has asked its registered publishers to prepare and furnish books by June 20 for their onward free distribution among students of government primary schools in the province , said a source in the board.

After causing considerable mess in the name of import of printing papers from abroad, the STB repeatedly changed its stances and gave a new date for release of primary school books. The board has so far failed to ensure the availability of books to 2.8 million students.

The printing paper was supplied to private printers in the last week of April while the academic session had already commenced on April 1. The publishers were told that the STB wanted the books prepared latest by June 20 so that those could be sent to 16 district governments in the province for their onward distribution to students.

It is pertinent to mention here that all government schools in the province would remain closed for two months on account of summer vacations. It was said that only nine of the 16 districts had been provided with a few books. About 20 per cent of the books prepared in the first run are still lying in the STB godowns.

Sources said that only 15 out of 51 titles (subjects) meant for primary classes could be prepared so far. Many of the titles were yet to be printed and bound together, they said.

If all went right it was likely that books would be available with the district governments by June 30. The students or their parents could be called at schools to collect the free textbooks in July, added the source.

On the other side, the Sindh Textbook Board assured the publishers that the process of payments against their bills pertaining to printing job would be streamlined further and their dues would soon be paid.