Punjab Textbook Board publish maps of “Seraiki” and “Hazara” provinces

Lahore: Punjab Textbook Board published  maps of “Seraiki” and “Hazara” provinces in the book of Geography of 8th class.

According to details, the map found in the textbook shows the Seraiki-belt to be a separate entity named as “Saraikistan” and Hazara division also to be a separate province.So far more than 200,000 copies of the book have been dispatched to government schools across Punjab.The designers Rehan Ahmad and the director Shahida Javaid who gave approval of the book interestingly belonged to South Punjab.

The authorities have terminated the services of the contract employees,the designer Rehan Ahmad and subject specialist Habib Ahmad.The director Shahida Jabeen services has been surrendered and she was sent back to her department HEC where as incharge art cell Anjum Mumtaz was facing departmental inquiry under peeda act.

On the other hand, Opposition Leader in Punjab Assembly Mian Mehmood ur Rasheed termed it a violation of the Constitution and called for a judicial inquiry of the matter.

The provincial law minister Rana Sana has also ordered an inquiry and vowed to punish accordingly those found responsible for it.

Meanwhile, Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has taken notice of the publication of maps of Saraikistan and Hazara provinces in the text book of 8th class.

The CM Punjab sought report from minister of education and secretary education and directed for stern action against those who found guilty during the probe of the matter.

It would be interesting to mention here that Punjab Textbook Board has history of making such mistakes.It had published in the class one book that The Azad Kashmir is a disputed territory in the map of Pakistan.