SUKKUR: Commissioner Sukkur Division, Abbas Baloch has issued orders to all district education officers to stop salaries of absentee teachers. Presiding over a meeting on Education Reforms and Oversight Committee, he said punitive action against officials and teachers on poor performance would also be taken. He maintained biometric attendance should be ensured at all schools of Sukkur. Commissioner asked deputy commissioners to submit their respective reports of such teachers and staff to him within three days. Commissioner also ordered them to hold regular monthly review meetings to share progress and resolution of issues. Strict monitoring and supervision of teachers should be made flawless to ensure their attendance. Deputy Commissioner Sukkur Raheem Bux told a meeting that 13 schemes of the Education Works Department have been completed and around 60 percent work has been achieved on 28 schemes. Around 68 schemes could not be started so far. Plan was being devised to energise schools on solar systems to cope with the issue of load shedding. He informed the meeting that despite a list of more than 811 absentee-teachers submitted, higher education authorities has not taken any action against these teachers. Published in Daily Times, August 6th 2017.