Controversy Arises as Punjab Decides Not to Print Quran for Classes 1 to 5 This Year

 In a controversial move, the Punjab Curriculum and Textbook Board (PCTB) has reportedly ceased the printing of Quranic Chapters (Siparas) for students in grades one through five, sparking concerns among educators and religious publishers.

This decision comes despite the distribution of over 7.9 million Quranic Chapters to students across Punjab last year.

The halt in printing is attributed to a lack of funds, a claim that has raised eyebrows among stakeholders. Last year, the board incurred expenses of approximately Rs. 1.5 billion for the publication of Quranic Chapters.

Reports claim that the PCTB, citing financial constraints, has decided not to publish the Quranic Chapters for the upcoming academic year 2024-2025.

In addition to this, there is a proposal to reduce the size of textbooks, a move that is seen as a cost-cutting measure.
The final approval of these decisions is pending, with summaries sent to the Secretary of Education and the Chief Secretary for review.