Sindh's Education and Literacy department is yet to launch a programme to introduce Chinese language course in schools and colleges across the province, which was scheduled to begin in March this year. The department is being run under Senior Minister Pir Mazharul Haq. Funding for the scheme was approved by Sindh's Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah in February last year.
Sources said that the PC-1 of the project had earlier been approved by the Provincial Development Working Party (PDWP) in the first week of March last year. Sources said that the education and literacy department had forwarded a summary to Syed Qaim Ali Shah for the approval of an initial funding of Rs 597.885 million.
After the approval of the funding summary, the department's Planning and Development wing had prepared a feasibility report. According to content of the PC-1, which was obtained by Business Recorder, 'Introduction of Chinese language programme' should have been launched on March 1 this year.
The PC-1 further stated: "The execution authority of this programme would be Directorate of Chinese Language Programme, sources added in this regard that the education department has not established the said directorate which had to be made also after the approval of funding summary.
"Since Pakistan came into being, it has good relations with China. The relations between both the countries have strengthened with the passage of time. The main objective of this project is to introduce Chinese Language Courses to all students of each level throughout Sindh province in order to provide basic knowledge of the language for entering to extensive business, economic and cultural relations with the new economic giant of today's world, PC-1 mentioned."
A senior official of the department concerned told Business Recorder that the education and literacy department had appointed a consultant to initiate this scheme, but many other important issues still remained unresolved and that was why the launching of the scheme was delayed. He said that controversies over various issues between key office-holders of the Sindh government had prevented the launching of several other important schemes.