HYDERABAD, June 15: The Sindh Textbook Board has decided to institute criminal proceedings against a firm which allegedly violated an agreement regarding procurement of paper by giving fake bank guarantees.

The STB's board of governors at a meeting held at its office in Jamshoro on Monday asked its legal adviser to initiate the proceedings against the firm, Messrs Iqra Enterprises, Karachi, for violating agreement terms.

The board also approved the mechanism of distribution of free textbooks among districts keeping in view release of funds by respective districts. It stressed the need for maintaining financial management as the number of books demanded by various districts exceeded funds provided by them.

The board also discussed the matter of using its printing machines lying non-functional since termination of services of the printing staff. The matter was deferred to the next meeting so as to examine alternatives such as leasing the machines, disposing them of or making the press functional again.

Board chairman Prof Anwar Ahmad Zai presided over the meeting which was attended by Prof Dr Qazi Khadim Hussain, Dr Habibullah Siddiqui, Apa Mariam Sultana Noohani and Manzoor Hussain Bhutto.