KARACHI: An inquiry against the former chairman of Sindh Textbook Board (STBB) into the shortage of free textbooks for students of public schools across the province has attributed the issue to systemic shortcomings, underlining the need for administrative reforms to prevent similar occurrences in the future, it emerged on Friday.

The inquiry report also highlighted that the allocated budget for free textbooks was not sufficient to meet the required quantity, leading to persistent shortages as the former STBB chairman Agha Sohail Ahmed had repeatedly sought enhancements in budgetary allocations to address the issue.

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The inquiry also exonerated the former STBB chairman from all charges, stating that no evidence was found to established “mismanagement and inefficiency on his part.

Inquiry Officer Rafique A Buriro, the chairman of Chief Minister’s Inspection and Inquiry Team (CMIT), in his report, a copy of which is provided to Dawn, on March 11 said that the inquiry against the former STB chairman was initiated by the provincial caretaker government on Nov 13, last year.

Inquiry conducted by CMIT absolves ex-STBB chief Sohail of all charges

“I am of the opinion that the charges of inefficacy, mismanagement and omission do not sustain against Agha Sohail Ahmed as these are unfounded and may be dropped in the interest of justice,” he said.

The inquiry officer further said in the report that the charges against the officer under inquiry lost significance as he was assigned the task of meeting the shortage of free textbooks on an emergency basis after the shortage was reported in the media.

“Had the officer been known as inefficient and negligent manager of government affairs, he may never have been assigned such a crucial task at the very critical stage in the academic year of the students in public sector schools,” the inquiry officer said.

He concluded: “I am of the firm opinion that Agha Sohail Ahmed may be exonerated from the charges …He may be reinstated in service.”

As per the allegations, the STBB chairman was alleged to have committed the acts of inefficiency, mismanagement and misconduct in the delayed printing of textbooks despite the release of Rs2,53,000,000/- during 2022-23. It was reported that the shortage of textbooks ranged from 50 per cent to 70pc.

Published in Dawn, April 7th, 2024