The Pakistan High Commission (HC) has shut down its in-house school in New Delhi amid allegations that the step was taken owing to the country’s financial woes. Notices issued to the High Commission’s staff said the decision was taken due to “low enrollment.”
Enrolment low, Pakistan mission shuts Delhi school https://t.co/0VNbK8vIHy
— TOI Delhi (@TOIDelhi) May 29, 2023
Overview
The spokesperson of the HC said, “Upon completion of the current academic year, the activities of the Pakistan High Commission School have been suspended, because of low enrollment levels in view of the downgraded strength of the High Commission.”
The school had around 30 students, of which 25 were shifted to schools outside. One principal, six teachers and one non-teaching staff worked at the school, which was shut down last month.
The spokesperson of the Pakistan HC said that the school was never open to the public and exclusively catered to the needs of children of the embassy’s staff.
Responding to media queries on the decision, the HC spokesperson also noted that New Delhi had halved the strength of the Pakistani Embassy in June 2020 from 110 to 55.
The embassy had issued notices undersigned by Pakistan chargé d’affaires Salman Sharif to its staff in the past month, informing them about the suspension of their services.
Islamabad is undergoing a financial crisis, due to which the school staff members’ salaries have also been delayed and reduced. The staff was allegedly getting paid after delays of as long as six months.
Pakistan says to share budget details with IMF to unlock funds https://t.co/JkguoSEmGN pic.twitter.com/R5Wno6vnys
— Reuters (@Reuters) May 29, 2023
Islamabad’s Financial Crisis
Earlier, the Pakistani embassy in Siberia had alleged that the staff had not been paid salaries for the past three months, while the embassy in Argentina also tweeted that the government had not paid the embassy employees their dues for three months. However, the Pakistani Foreign Office refuted both claims and said these accounts were hacked.
Pakistan has been facing troubles on the economic front with a steep fall in the country’s forex reserves and rising inflation.
A February report by US-based rating agency Fitch highlighted that Pakistan’s forex reserves had dropped to “critical low levels.” The State Bank of Pakistan’s reserves fell from $20 billion in August 2021 to $2.9 billion in February.
Pakistan is seeking to revive its economy through a $7 billion bailout programme and secure a $1.1 billion tranche from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The UAE has confirmed it will provide $1 billion in support to Islamabad, which will prevent the crisis-hit country from defaulting on its debt.
The shutting down of the embassy’s school has further raised concerns about the country’s debilitating financial health.