The Sindh government has officially banned the tradition of gifting ajraks, Sindhi caps, and other presents during school ceremonies, and has prohibited children from welcoming guests, delegates, or secretariat officers at such events.
A notification issued by the School Education and Literacy Department instructed all government school officers and heads of allied institutions to strictly stop these practices. The department emphasized that the directives must be followed “in letter and spirit” without any exceptions.
This move comes after Sindh Education Minister Syed Sardar Ali Shah expressed strong displeasure over the exchange of gifts during a May 16 event focused on providing meals in government schools. His criticism prompted the department to issue the official ban.
The cultural practices of presenting ajrak and Sindhi topi have long been part of welcoming ceremonies in Sindh, particularly in educational settings. However, the government now sees these as unnecessary formalities that need to be discontinued to maintain simplicity and focus on the main objectives of such events.