KHAIRPUR, Dec 13 DCO Mohammad Abbas Baloch has cast doubts on claims made by education officers of the district about revival of non-functioning schools, and said that the claims need to be properly verified.He was speaking at the inauguration of an educational fair organised by an NGO at the Khazana ground here on Sunday.

Sindh Education Minister Pir Mazharul Haq, who attended the ceremony, said that efforts would be made to improve the standard of education in the province because the system had been a victim of political interference.

He said that dictatorial regimes indulged in political interference, but the PPP had closed that chapter.

He said that it was a matter of concern that a grade-20 officer in the education department could not speak English.

He condemned killing of women and girls in the name of honour and said that while many people did not send their daughters to school, they felt proud in killing them by terming them 'Kari', he said.

The minister said he had visited a girls' college in Hyderabad which had 12 lecturers of zoology “Who is going to teach this subject in other colleges which do not have zoology teachers?”

During a visit to a girls' school in Thatta, he said, he had found that only 11 of the 93 enrolled students were present. And when he asked them about their teachers, the girls said that they were on leave to attend a wedding.

He said many government schools were being used by waderas as guest-houses and storehouses. Efforts were being made to get such schools opened.

Later, the education minister visited stalls of various schools at the fair and appreciated the work done by children.

Schools in Khairpur, Rohri, Dadu and Sukkur participated in the fair.

Students of various schools presented tableau, folk songs and dance.

Strike A strike was observed here on Sunday in protest against the arrest of Sunni Action Committee activist Ghulam Mustafa Soomro.

Main bazaars, markets and Panj Gulla chowk remained closed.

B-section police arrested Ghulam Mustafa Soomro on Saturday night for his allged involvement in activities against a rival sect.

Activists of the Sunni Action Committee also took out a protest procession from Panj Gulla to the Civic Centre roundabout.

They raised slogans against police and the district administration, demanding immediate release of the activist.