SHC orders forming committee to monitor education projects funded by foreign donors

The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Saturday directed the Sindh government to constitute a high-level committee to monitor the progress of the education department’s projects that were being funded by foreign donors and also apprise the foreign donors with regard to the progress in such projects.

The direction came on a petitions pertaining to the authorities’ failure to supply textbooks to government students.

A division bench of the SHC headed by Justice Salahuddin Panhwar asked the Sindh advocate general about the repatriation of officers who were working on deputation in the education department.

The advocate general submitted that the Sindh government had approached the Supreme Court with regard to deputation of such officers while one officer had been transferred.

The high court inquired the law officer why the international donors that had funded projects of the education department should not monitor such projects for the purpose of keeping a check.

The SHC directed the advocate general to submit a statement with regard to the constitution of a committee for monitoring the education department’s projects being funded by foreign donors.

The high court observed that if such an exercise was done, it would help streamline such projects in the future.

The bench also expressed its dissatisfaction at a report with regard to providing of textbooks to the government school student and directed the law officer to file a compliance report on the next date of hearing.

It is pertinent to mention that the high court had earlier took exception to the appointment of a National Accountability Bureau officer as a project director of the education department’s multimillion-dollar e-books and e-exams projects.

The SHC had observed that the role of project director, particularly in projects that affected the education sector and involved foreign funding, demanded the appointment of an individual having an undisputed track record, who not only possessed strong administrative capabilities but also a clear and in-depth understanding of the local challenges and dynamics surrounding the execution of such public projects.

The SHC had ordered an audit of the complete record of such education projects during the last eight years by the auditor general of Pakistan. The high court also directed the Sindh school education secretary to provide complete details of funds received and utilised during the last eight years in all such foreign-funded projects to the auditor general of Pakistan within one month.