HYDERABAD, April 1 The board of governors of the Sindhi Language Authority at a meeting held on Wednesday praised the authority for clearing a loan of Rs3.4 million, saving Rs9.2 million and having an endowment fund of Rs11.1 million.

The board expressed gratitude to Sindh chief minister, Minister for Culture Ms Sassui Palijo, secretary of culture Shams Jafrani and member of the board, Sarfaraz Rajar, for increase in annual grant of the authority from Rs5 million to Rs20 million.

The meeting expressed grief over deaths of noted writers Tajal Bewas, Prof Hyder Ali Leghari, Asim Akhund, Abdul Karim Baloch, Shayam Jai Sanghani and Lal Bishop.

The meeting approved reports of publication and selection committees and promotion and confirmation cases of the employees.

The meeting decided to form a committee with members from the authority, Sindhi Adabi Board, Sindhology, culture department and Bhitshah Cultural Centre, which were publishing different books on various subjects, to monitor the organisations' publications to avoid overlapping of subjects.

The meeting adopted a resolution requesting the chief minister to extend deputation of Taj Joyo as secretary of the authority.

Earlier, the members of the board held an introductory meeting with Minister for Culture Ms Sassui Palijo, who was briefed about decisions of the board meeting.

She said that she would recommend to the education minister to give representation to the authority in the formulation of educational policies and ensure teaching of Sindhi language in private schools.