Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Textbook Board (KPTB) is facing cash crunch and in unable to give funds for the printing of books for the next academic year, reported 24NewsHD RTV channel on Friday.
According to KPTB sources, the payments from the previous year to the owners of printing presses have finally been made.
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Textbook Board also requested Finance Secretary to provide the funding for printing of this year's book, but it fell on deaf ears.
There is a fear that the distribution of official books to schools in the upcoming academic year would be delayed if the situation persists.
It merits here to mention that the provincial government promised KPTB to provide Rs9 billion rupees funds for books printing. Following that, the board asked some printing presses to print the books.
Later, the government released only one billion out of 9 billion rupees.
A few printing presses have finished printing textbooks for the academic year 2023–2024 and are now demanding payment from the board as per agreement.
In order to avoid inconvenience in the supply of the books, prevent problems with the supply of books, the KPTB has repeatedly reminded the provincial government to release 9 billion rupees immediately.