Ban on dance classes in schools revoked in Sindh province

Pakistan's Sindh province government has revoked a ban on holding dance classes in schools.
Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah revoked the ban yesterday, taking exception to a circular issued by the Education Department asking private schools to desist from conducting dance classes.
"The ban imposed by the Director-General of the Education Department has been revoked immediately," he said in a statement.
The Chief Minister said the provincial government believes in preserving and promoting culture and heritage as enshrined in Pakistan's constitution.
"No one would be allowed to hijack the provincial government's progressive agenda. Dance and music are integral parts of a liberal society and we will continue to support such activities," he said in the statement.

Shah further said that Education Minister Jam Mehtab Hussain Dahar had denied giving orders to issue any ban on holding dance classes and action will be taken against officials who falsely attributed such a ban to him.

"Action is being initiated. Those responsible will be taken to task," he said.
The Education Minister, however, said that some complaints were received about vulgar dances being held in some schools and this would be discouraged.
On Friday, private schools director-general Mansoob Hussain Siddiqui had issued a letter in this regard to the management of private schools and directorate of inspection and registration of private school institutions.

The letter said that "some schools, in the name of dance, have hired teachers and started teaching vulgar dance, which cannot be tolerated."
"This practice must be stopped forthwith, otherwise we will have no other option but to cancel the registration of these schools," the letter said.