ISLAMABAD, June 7: The education sector received an enhanced budgetary allocation of Rs3.1 billion in the fiscal year 2003-04 as compared to Rs1.7 billion in the current year, registering an increase of Rs1.3 billion.

Of this, Rs2.9 billion will be funded through local contribution and Rs181 million through foreign assistance.

The total cost of 68 different projects in the education sector is Rs49.2 billion, of which Rs2.1 billion have been utilized till June 2003 while Rs11.84 billion have been carried over.

An amount of Rs350 million has been fixed for ‘Education for All’. The total cost of the project is Rs700 million.

For the adult literacy programme, the government this year has allocated an amount of Rs100 million when the total cost of the project is Rs8 billion. Similarly, Rs150 million have been earmarked for the literacy programme. The total cost of the project is Rs11.2 billion.

In order to establish polytechnics at the district level (including Gwadar, Turbat, etc) Rs300 million have been set aside. The total cost of the project is Rs15 billion.

Rs1 billion have been provided for madressah reforms (to start teaching of formal subjects in madressahs). The total cost of the project is Rs5.12 billion.

For teachers training resource centre, a sum of Rs50 million has been earmarked.

The total cost of the project is Rs600 million. Rs30 million are reserved for the establishment of Col. Sher Khan Cadet College, Swabi.

Under new initiatives, Rs29.5 million have been set aside for the establishment of 350 community schools in hard-to-reach areas of Fata. Of this, Rs29.4 million are to come through foreign aid.

Separate sums have been set aside for different cadet colleges: Rs42.5 million for the establishment of Cadet College Panjgur, Rs40.8 million for Cadet College, Qila Saifullah, Rs40 million for Cadet College, Ghotki, Rs25.8 million for Cadet College, Palandri (AJK), and Rs40 million for Cadet College, Chawinda.

For the strengthening of Teachers Education Project (STEP), Rs12.9 million have been earmarked.