PECTA publishes Delhi's Red Fort as Shahi Qila Lahore in textbook

A startling error has come to light in the official First Year Chemistry textbook issued by the Punjab Curriculum, Training, and Assessment Authority (PECTA), where a picture of Delhi’s iconic Red Fort has been mistakenly published and labelled as Shahi Qila (Lahore Fort).

According to the 24NewsHD TV channel, the image appears in the chapter discussing environmental pollution and the effects of smog. 

While the text aims to highlight the impact of smog on historical monuments, the photo used is not of Lahore’s Shahi Qila, but of India’s Red Fort, a prominent symbol of Delhi’s Mughal heritage.

This textbook is part of the official curriculum being taught in government educational institutions across Punjab. 

The image, mistakenly captioned as Shahi Qila Lahore, has raised serious concerns among educationists and academic circles, who have condemned the oversight and criticised the lack of cultural and historical verification.

As of now, PECTA officials have not issued any official explanation or apology regarding the mistake.

However, Punjab’s Education Minister Rana Sikandar Hayat has taken notice of the issue and ordered an official inquiry into the matter. He stated that appropriate action will be taken once the investigation reveals the facts.