GILGIT, April 9: Attendance in government offices, hospitals and banks has improved as a good number of absent employees have resumed duty after issuance of a stern notice on Thursday by Northern Areas Chief Secretary Nadeem Manzoor, according to official sources.

Almost all the government offices were lying closed since January 8 in the wake of a sectarian clash in Gilgit, except the offices of the chief secretary and the AGPR.

Over 15,000 employees were on French leave, citing security reasons, which had resulted in suspension of normal work in government offices in the region.

The chief secretary told journalists that the notices were being dispatched to the employees who were found absent after the date of the earlier notice expired. The sources said that the educational institutions, including the Karakuram International University, could not be reopened but the Karakuram Board had announced a tentative schedule of the SSC and HSC examinations.