The future of ‘Insaf Afternoon Schools’ programme in Punjab looks uncertain since as many as seven thousand such schools in the province risk being closed on account of paucity of funds, reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Saturday. 

Quoting its sources, the channel reported that these schools would be closed if funds were not released to them for another one month. 

They added that due to the non-provision of funds, thousands of teachers at these schools had not been paid their salaries for four months due to which they were under lot of mental stress. 

On the other hand, teachers have demanded the Punjab government to pay their arrears. 

It is reminded here that the School Education Department has already started closing Insaf schools where there is less enrolment of students.     

The department spokesman, however, has said that teachers will be paid their dues the moment funds are received. 

While on one hand, the Punjab government is making an excuse that it does not have sufficient funds to finance the Insaf Afternoon Schools, on the other hand, it has released Rs3.5 billion to run the administrative affairs of the government schools in the province.  

Out of the total amount released, over Rs140 million have been given to the government schools in Lahore. 

In this connection, Punjab Finance Department has issued a notification.

Reporters: Junaid Riaz and Ali Ramay