KARACHI: The officials of the College Education Department (CED), Sindh, face odd challenge of updating the record of female faculty members and employees, those who change their second names and replace name of fathers with husbands after marriage, Daily Times has learnt. Traditionally the women attach names of their husbands as suffix when they get married which often create discrepancy with regards to their official record as no specified rules exist in public offices for such changing, all the record is usually maintained as per the matriculation certificates. “As these female faculty members and other female employees get married they change their name without adopting proper procedure”, said Gulab Rai, Deputy Director of Directorate of Colleges Karachi. He added that there is no prohibition for making changes in names but it creates confusion for the officials if made without permission. “These female employees cannot change their names until they inform the department in written including published advertisements”, he suggested. Taking about the problems of such female employees, he said “sometime official record misleads us and accounts department stops their pensions, increments after promotions and other financial benefits because of the existing record”. Sometimes the employees get changes in their Computerized National Identity Card CNICs but they do not get their record updated with the department they are working with. “If no explanation in the Sindh’s Services Conduct Rules is found then natural rule would be applied in these cases”, Prof Feroze Siddiqui, president of Sindh Professors and Lecturers Association (SPLA). In this regard , the department had informed female employees through a circular but majority of them have not responded and even many employees are unaware of the procedure. “For the correction of record, it’s mandatory to produce proper documentation”, he said adding that they have sought guidance of high authorities for such case but the authorities have not replied yet. Published in Daily Times, September 7th 2017.