SIALKOT, Dec 5: The Sialkot district Nazim, Naim Javed, said on Wednesday the district government might impose a tax for promotion of education.

Speaking at a meeting with district heads of nation building departments, he also expressed dissatisfaction with the slow progress on various development projects.

The Nazim directed the executive district officers concerned to complete their projects on schedule. He said project work would be closely monitored by him and his district support team.

He said the slow progress of work on Khwaja Safdar Road was disappointing and directed the EDO concerned to ensure its early completion.

The EDO (Health) informed the meeting that a campaign against TB had been started in Daska tehsil after the mandatory training of the officers and the staff concerned. In the second phase, he said, Sialkot and Pasrur tehsils would be covered. He said 1,000 TB patients registered under the programme would be treated for 80 days to increase awareness of the disease and its treatment.

The Nazim did not agree with a proposal on purchase of farm machinery from public funds. He said the private sector should invest in the sector. The investors, he said, could charge rent from the farmers using the equipment.

The EDO (Agriculture) informed the meeting that the government had announced no support price for the paddy crop. He apprehended that even if a support price was announced by the government, brokers would purchase paddy at lower rates unless the Passco purchased the commodity. The Nazim said he would take up the issue with the governor. The EDO also proposed reactivation of the district agriculture advisory committee.

The Nazim informed the EDO (Education) that the district government was considering a proposal to impose a Re1 a month education tax on students of schools and colleges. He said the revenue would be spent on promotion of education. Some participants of the meeting said the tax should instead be levied on schools charging exorbitant fees. They also said many private schools were not even registered with the Education Department. The EDO was directed to verify this through a survey of private schools. He was also asked to list them in categories A, B and C.

The district coordination officer informed the participants that there was no provision for the residences and vehicles for the EDOs from the cost of devolution funds provided by the government.

DEADLINE: The local district education department has given Jan 31, 2002, as deadline to the non-registered private educational institutions across the district.