Daanish Schools: Postponed ceremonies cost Rs2.72 million

Inauguration at Chishtian delayed thrice because chief minister was busy.

LAHORE:

As much as Rs2.72 million has been wasted as the inauguration of a Daanish School in Chishtian was postponed thrice because Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif could not attend the ceremony as scheduled, The Express Tribune has learnt.

The inauguration is now scheduled to take place on Sunday (today).

In a letter written to the provincial chief secretary and finance secretary, Bahawalnagar district coordination officer has sought Rs2.7 million to arrange Sunday’s event.

An official speaking on conditions of anonymity told The Express Tribune that Rs3.9 million had been released to the Bahawalnagar DCO to arrange the ceremony. He said that the DCO had told the government that Rs2.72 million was spent on arranging the event on February 22, March 3 and March 21. He said on all three occasion the event had to be postponed because of chief minister’s unavailibility.

He said the Chief Minister’s Secretariat had directed the district administration to complete all arrangements at least 48 hours ahead of the event. However, he said, on all three occasions, the secretariat had postponed the event a day before the scheduled date.  He said by that time the event managers had already completed the arrangements.

The chief minister has already inaugurated Daanish Schools in Rahim Yar Khan and Hasilpur (in Bahawalpur district). Besides the first batch of students, the ceremonies were attended by government officials, journalists and foreign dignitaries.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 03^rd, 2011.