Publishing the wrong maps in the textbook is heinous crime: Shahbaz Sharif

Lahore: Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has said that the printing of the map of Saraikistan and Hazara province in the textbook of geography of 8^th class of Textbook Board is regrettable and is tantamount to a heinous crime. Therefore, he said that a judicial inquiry will be held in the incident of printing of wrong map in geography book of 8^th class and a letter will be written to Chief Justice Lahore High Court for this purpose.

He was addressing a high level meeting here today in which various aspects regarding printing of wrong map in geography book of 8^th class were considered in detail. Addressing the meeting, the Chief Minister said that the incident of printing of the map of Saraikistan and Hazara province in the textbook of geography of 8^th class of Textbook Board is deplorable.

He said that had there been an effective system of check and balance in the concerned department, wrong map could not have been printed and this big mistake would have been checked in time. He said that the concerned department did not fulfill its responsibilities properly due to which the mistake of printing of wrong map in geography book of 8^th class has occurred.

The Chief Minister said that after identifying this mistake, the concerned department and authorities should have taken action immediately but the concerned department did not perform its responsibility nor took immediate action. He said that when this matter came into the notice of senior authorities, action on war footing should have been taken as it was not an ordinary incident.

The Chief Minister said that Chief Minister’s Inspection Team will also submit its report regarding the incident separately and the elements involved in this heinous crime will not escape from punishment under the law. He said that it is lamentable that there is no mechanism of checking at any level but it is essential to evolve an effective system of checking and monitoring in future.

The Chief Minister directed that books containing wrong map should be withdrawn and Commissioners and DCOs should take action on war footing in this regard whereas books having correct map should be supplied immediately.

Provincial Minister Rana Mashhood Ahmad, Chief Secretary, Secretary Law, Secretary Schools Education, Chairman Punjab Curriculum and Textbook Board and MD Punjab Curriculum and Textbook Board attended the meeting.