By Sirajuddin
PESHAWAR: The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Textbook Board has halted printing (free) textbooks due to a lack of funds, which has raised concerns that the new academic year could face an inordinate delay.
According to Wenews, the new academic year in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa will start in April, while the printing process has been halted due to the non-payment to textbook publishers in the province. Text board officials have approached the K-P finance department for the second time seeking funds.
The K-P government provides free books to the children of classes 1 to 12 in government schools across the province. The provincial government awards contract to the textbook board through tenders to print books provided to the children prior to the start of every new academic year.
Dr Samira Taj, a member K-P Textbook Board, told Wenews that they were trying to ensure the supply of books to schools before the start of the academic year. He said that of the 55.7 million books, 34 million have been printed– which is 63 per cent of the total books printed– while 37 per cent of books were yet to be printed.
Abdul Wali Khan, a member of the K-P Textbook Board, told Wenews that in the current year, a budget of Rs10.93 billion had been allocated for printing books, out of which only Rs1 billion has been released so far. He hoped the K-P government would soon provide the remaining funds.
On the other hand, a publisher associated with the printing of textbooks told Wenews that funds were not being provided to them despite repeated requests while they were being asked for the timely printing of books. He said that 50 percent payment should be made as per the tenders but they have not yet been paid 20 per cent of the allocated amount.
Publishers say textbooks to be printed once funds released
The publisher said that due to the increase in the dollar’s value, paper prices have also skyrocketed, due to which they were suffering heavy losses. He said they have conveyed to the K-P Textbook Board that they will only print or ensure the supply once the amount was paid as promised in the tender.
Only 15 days have left for the start of the new academic year in the province, and the suspension of the printing process has also increased the problems of education department officials. The K-P Textbook Board has taken up the matter with the finance department and written a letter for the early release of funds.
Sources said that in 2022, the matter was taken up with the then finance minister Taimur Jhagra, but funds were not released despite assurances.
The K-P Textbook Board needs funds at a time when the province was facing severe financial difficulties. On Monday, the K-P finance department sent a letter to all departments, banning mineral water bottles in meetings and other events, with a direction to cut down on other unnecessary expenditures.
The province’s financial situation had worsened even before the PTI government left the provincial government. As a result, work on development projects was stopped, and even the salaries of government employees were delayed.
Officials said that the provincial government has also stopped compensating the flood victims for the losses and damages due to a lack of funds.
Attempts were made to contact the caretaker finance minister to get his version on the non-provision of funds for the provision of free books, but he did not respond to repeated phone calls.
