Punjab may withdraw BoG plan

Published December 12, 2002

RAWALPINDI, Dec 11: The Punjab government is likely to withdraw the proposed plan of introduction of boards of governors in the educational institutions, it is learnt.

Well-placed sources told Dawn that Chief Minister Ch Pervez Illahi during his recent visit to Rawalpindi assured the teaching community that he would resolve the issue. The issue needs an urgent solution, as it is complicating day by day, the chief minister was stated to have told the local leaders of PML-Q and the teachers’ representatives who had requested him for a meeting to discuss the issue.

The chief minister directed his staff officer GM Sikandar to give him a detailed briefing on the issue after Eid to facilitate him take some decision as early as possible, sources said.

A delegation of the union leaders of the Punjab Professors and Lecturers Association (PPLA) had requested the chief minister to spare some time for a meeting to apprise him of their reservations about the proposed BoG in educational institutions. Though a formal meeting did not take place, the chief minister was stated to have shown concern over the issue.

The local PPLA leader Ilyas Qureshi when asked about any progress on the issue said they were looking towards the chief minister to honour his promise. He said the chief minister had asked them not to stage sit-ins and promised that the issue would be resolved after he took over his office.

Mr Qureshi reminded the chief minister of his promise and urged him to take personal interest in this regard. He showed grave concern over the apathy of the authorities concerned towards solution of the teachers problems.

He said after three months intermediate examination will be held followed by BA/B.Sc examination in April. As students are disturbed because of this new issue and the teachers also are on protest, it will waste the precious time of the students, he said and urged solution of the issue on priority basis.