PESHAWAR: Provincial President of the Frontier Printers and Publishers Association Zafar Khattak has expressed concern over alleged financial irregularities, arbitrary contracting and non-transparent tendering processes in several education boards of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, calling for a transparent investigation into the matter. In a statement, he alleged that tenders in some education boards were being issued in violation of rules, while in certain cases contracts worth millions of rupees were cancelled and re-awarded to benefit “favoured” parties. He further claimed that some boards had caused losses to the national exchequer through the purchase of answer sheets and other educational material at inflated rates. Zafar Khattak also raised concerns over the policies of the Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education Mardan and Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education Malakand, alleging that tender conditions were framed in a manner that benefited selected firms. He said the province’s printing industry was already under severe pressure due to changes in textbook policy, closure of the Pak-Afghan border, and overall business challenges, warning that thousands of jobs were at risk. The association leader urged the Chief Minister and Chief Secretary to order an inquiry into the financial and tender records of the last four years and take strict action against those responsible. He warned that failure to address the issue would further deteriorate the situation of the printing industry in the province. Staff Reporter
