THATTA, March 20: The Sindh government is making efforts to make functional over 5,000 closed primary schools in the province, including 261 in Thatta.

Reliable sources told this correspondent that the education department had prepared a report on the subject after collecting district-wise lists of closed schools.

According to official figures, 500 primary schools are lying closed in Larkana, 300 each in Tharparkar and Hyderabad, 251 in Dadu, 250 in Sanghar, 200 each in Nawabshah, Jacobabad, Badin and Mirpurkhas, 150 each in Khairpur and Ghotki and 100 in Shikarpur.

The sources said a majority of these schools was however shown functional on papers. Several of the school buildings are being used as Autaq by local influential people, they added.

The people have criticized the claim of some NGOs that they had got enrolled 17,000 children in government primary schools. The NGOs are merely getting funds in this way, they added.

SALARY DEMANDED: Workers of the Al-Asif Sugar Mills, Gharo, encircled the factory guest house and made hostage the managerial staff for four hours here on Saturday to protest against non-payment of their February salary, bonus and Eid allowance.