ISLAMABAD: The government earmarked Rs97.8 billion for the higher education sector in the financial year 2017-18.

Out of the total allocation, Rs62.1 billion have been set aside for the non-development expenditure of the Higher Education Commission (HEC) and Rs35.6 billion for 160 ongoing and 62 new development schemes. A majority of the new schemes are, however, unapproved meaning their funding could face a delay.

The ministry of finance failed to release a major chunk of the non-development budget allocated for the HEC in the outgoing budget. An amount of Rs21.4bn had been allocated for the development projects of the commission but so far only Rs8.6 billion could be released.

For the fiscal year 2016-17, the government had earmarked Rs79.5 billion for the higher education sector.

The budgetary documents showed that there were 62 new development schemes in the higher education sector. These schemes included the award of 50 scholarships for master degrees in Punjab and 50 scholarships for the Chinese language to students from Gwadar. This project was worth Rs450 million and for the 2017-18 fiscal year the government allocated Rs90 million for the scheme.

The government also allocated Rs200 million for the establishment of campuses of universities in Murree and Kasur. Moreover, Rs200 million have been approved for the establishment of the Baba Gurunanak International University at Nankana Sahib.

Published in Dawn, May 27th, 2017