By Saima Baloch
KARACHI: The Urdu Bazaar Traders Association has highlighted a persistent shortage of textbooks in Karachi’s markets, despite the academic session’s start being delayed by two and a half months. Officials from the association, including Sajid Yousuf, Hussain Abbas, Ali Muhammad Awan, Nadeem Akhtar, and Farhan Kaghzi, held a press conference to address the issue, revealing that 30 percent to 40 percent of textbooks are still missing from the market.
Key textbooks that are notably absent include those for 10th-grade mathematics, 5th-grade Urdu, and chemistry and physics for grades 9 through 12. Additionally, computer science books for grades 9 and 10 have been out of stock for the past six months, and biology textbooks for grades 11 and 12 are also unavailable.
Hussain Abbas, General Secretary of the Urdu Bazaar Traders Association, criticized the recent imposition of an 18 percent to 20 percent tax on stationery items, which he claims has placed an additional financial burden on parents. He called for the immediate establishment of a committee to address the textbook shortage and ensure that essential educational materials are made available to students in a timely manner. The ongoing textbook scarcity is causing significant disruptions for students and parents alike, with many struggling to prepare for the new academic year. The Urdu Bazaar Traders Association’s call for action underscores the urgent need for a resolution to this pressing issue.
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