KARACHI: The budgetary provision for the education sector in Sindh for 2025-26 has been proposed to be Rs523.73 billion against last year’s budget of Rs458.2bn.

While presenting the Sindh budget for the new financial year on Friday, Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah said that education plays a pivotal role in human capital development. “With nearly 67 per cent of its population below the age of 30, Pakistan stands as one of the youngest nations in the world,” he reminded, adding that the government of Sindh strives to grab this golden opportunity to capitalise on a potential demographic dividend.

Therefore, this year the provincial government has provided funds to educational institutions at all levels from primary to universities and medical education, thus aiming to align with SDG-4, which is inclusive, equitable quality education for all by 2030, he said.

The budgetary provision for this year, recording a significant increase of 12.4pc, includes primary, secondary, middle, higher secondary, college and university levels. It also represents 25.3pc of the total current revenue expenditure.

Rs500m allocated for awarding scholarships to deserving students in foreign universities

While presenting some of the education budget’s striking features, the CM said that for primary education, the existing budgetary allocation is being enhanced from Rs136.2bn to Rs156.2bn while the provision of funds for middle / elementary education is also being increased from Rs36.2bn to Rs42.7bn.

The allocation for secondary education is being enhanced from Rs68.5bn to Rs77.2bn for the next financial year.

With an increase of Rs5bn, next year’s budget for college education is proposed to be Rs39.530bn.

To overcome the shortage of subject specialists in higher secondary schools, a provision of Rs200 million has been kept on account of hiring of subject specialist interns.

A specific provision of Rs500m has been kept for maintenance and repair of college buildings, too.

A provision of Rs500m has also been made for awarding scholarships to deserving students of Sindh in foreign universities under the College Education Department. In order to encourage meritorious and needy students to go for higher studies, a sum of Rs2bn has also been kept under the Sindh Educational Endowment Fund (SEEF) under the College Education Department. Also, a provision of Rs1.4bn has been kept to improve the standard of 11 cadet colleges across Sindh.

Funds amounting to Rs3.2bn have been proposed to be allocated in next year’s budget for registration and examination expenses and for scholarship to high performing students of the year.

To impart quality education, two new community colleges at Sehwan and Bhan Saeedabad have been established under IBA Sukkur, while four IBA community colleges at Naushahro Feroze, Jacobabad, Dadu and Khairpur will be established at a cost of Rs380m next year.

An enhanced grant of Rs2.6bn for technical education and vocational training through the Sindh Technical Education and Vocational Authority and Rs1.2bn for the Human Research and Development Board have also been proposed.

In order to overcome the shortage of staff in schools, around 4,400 posts of different nomenclature have been placed at the disposal of the Education Department for appointment in the next financial year.

The Sindh government has taken a revolutionary step toward financial strengthening of 34,106 primary schools in Sindh. The specific cost centres with a budgetary allocation of Rs18.6bn for the next financial year have been created, the CM said.

“Now, every school shall have its own cost centre and exclusive budget to be utilised by the head master/mistress without relying on the Taluka Education Officer,” he explained.

The provision of funds for the existing 31 public sector universities, and nine independent campuses and institutions through the Sindh Higher Education Commission has also been increased to Rs42.2bn against last year’s budget of Rs35.1bn.

Published in Dawn, June 14th, 2025