Minister orders immediate supply of free books to students

Islamabad

Minister of State for Capital Administration and Development Division Dr. Tariq Fazal Chaudhry on Monday ordered the supply of free textbooks to the students of the Federal Directorate of Education schools in Islamabad by April 30.

After learning about the issue, the minister called the officials of FDE and National Books Foundation in his office.

During the meeting in which CADD secretary Hassan Iqbal, FDE DG Dr. Shahnaz Anjum Riaz and NBF MD Inamul Haq Javed were also present, the minister expressed serious concern about the delay in supply of textbooks to students and directed the NBF MD to ensure the provision of the books to all students of government schools in the federal areas on urgent basis.

He said he would monitor the process himself on daily basis.

A review meeting to analyse the progress will be held in the next week.

Dr. Tariq directed the DG FDE that from next year, advanced payment must be ensured to the National Book Foundation at the time of the MOU signing so that books can be timely provided to the students on the day of the announcement of results before the commencement of new academic session.

The FDE DG said almost 60% books had been delivered to FDE by the NBF and these books were being distributed among the student through relevant school heads.

“These books are distributed through nine distribution centres, five in urban and four in rural areas of the capital,” she said.

She said this year, the situation was much better than the previous years.

The NBF MD said his organisation had to get books published through private companies which caused delays.

He said delay in the selection of books on the part of the Federal Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education was also a major cause for the late provisions of books to students.