The Punjab Curriculum and Textbook Board (PCTB) has stirred controversy by halting the printing of Quranic Chapters (Siparas) for grades one through five due to reported financial constraints, despite distributing over 7.9 million chapters last year, incurring expenses of Rs. 1.5 billion. The decision, pending final approval, also includes a proposed reduction in textbook sizes for cost-cutting.
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Critics, including the Chairman of the Quran Publishers Association of Pakistan, Syed Ahsan Mahmood Shah, President Qudratullah, and Patron-in-Chief Hafiz Al-Barakat Shah, have strongly condemned the move, urging the Punjab government to reverse it. The Chairman of the Punjab Quran Board, Maulana Hafiz Fazl Rahim, has written to the Chief Minister seeking intervention, emphasizing no official directive has been received regarding the permanent discontinuation of the Quranic Chapters’ publication.
This decision raises concerns about the potential impact on Quranic education in public schools across Punjab, with fears that it could significantly affect the religious education of young students. The issue remains unresolved, awaiting further action from the Punjab government.