HYDERABAD, July 20: The board of governors of the Sindhi Language Authority has approved the authority's Rs9.281 million budget for the fiscal 2004-5, showing a deficit of Rs0.971 million.

The budget was approved at the board's meeting held here on Saturday, details of which were released on Monday. The meeting further decided to approach the Sindh chief minister for a Rs500 million endowment fund to strengthen the authority financially.

In accordance with a decision of federal and provincial governments, the meeting approved an increase of 15 per cent in salaries of permanent employees and also extended contract period of temporary employees from three months to one year with a fresh package.

The meeting also raised monthly wages of low-paid employees, working under an agreement, by 25 per cent. It appointed a committee, to be headed by Dr Mohammad Sharif Memon, to review posts of employees and determine as to which posts were necessary.

The meeting also decided to purchase volumes of Shah-Jo-Risalo, which were in possession of Dr Nabi Bux Khan Baloch, to make all the 10 volumes available at the Kaleech Kitab Ghar.

It decided to name the information resource centre and library of the authority after the late renowned scholar Allama Ghulam Mustafa Qasmi. The meeting adopted condolence resolutions on the deaths of Allama Ghulam Mustafa Qasmi, Ali Ahmad Brohi, Shaikh Mohammad Ismail, Syed Hashim Raza, Jamal Abro, Dr Shams Soomro, Prof Khadija Nabi Bux Khan Baloch and other noted writers and artistes.

SLA chairman Dr Mohammad Qasim Bughio presided over the meeting which was attended by Dr Nabi Bux Khan Baloch, Mazharul Haq Siddiqui, Dr Nawaz Ali Shauq, Abdul Qadir Junejo, Dr Mohammad Sharif Memon, Dr Mohammad Suleman Shaikh, Mr Afaq Siddiqui, Dr Abdul Ghaffar Soomro, Mohammad Hussain Bhutto and others.