KARACHI, July 15: The Sindh education minister, Dr Hamida Khuhro, has set up a cell at her office to receive complaints regarding discrepancies, if any, in the appointments of ad hoc lecturers at colleges in the province , said sources in the education department.

It was learnt that the complaint cell would work in addition to the one already operational under the provincial secretary for education. The new cell has been set up at the old Sindh Secretariat, Tughlaq House.

An official said that quarters having grievances against the process of appointment, which was suspended for the time being to ascertain public complaints of nepotism and corruption, could furnish their applications along with evidence at the cell immediately.

As soon as complaints are received and examined, the suspended process of appointment of 750 lecturers on contract basis for a period of three years would be resumed, added the official.

Another source in the department said that in view of several complaints received at the education department before the suspension of the process, it could be said that irregularities were on a limited scale.

However, authorities should also look into the claims by people, that they had paid heavy sums for appointments as lecturers to certain officials, working under the previous set-up of the education department, but had failed to get the promised job, added the source.