ISLAMABAD: A Senate panel on Monday decided to review the Punjab government’s model before determining the fate of a proposal to provide free milk to students in public schools in Islamabad.

The Senate Standing Committee on Federal Education met at Parliament House with Senator Bushra Anjum Butt in the chair and discussed the proposal moved by Senator Sarmad Ali.

Officials from the education ministry acknowledged the noble intent behind the proposal but highlighted the cost implications estimating a requirement of Rs900 million and potential food safety risks due to the perishable nature of milk.

The committee decided to review the model of the Punjab government and invited stakeholders, including representatives from two popular private companies dealing in production and supply of milk to deliberate on a sustainable framework.

Contentious curriculum bill deferred; mover Quratul Ain Marri says it is very unfortunate that bill aimed at giving our children basic education is being opposed

Meanwhile, opening with the compliance report on the Pakistan Institute of Fashion Design (PIFD), the committee reviewed the ministry’s progress on amendments directed in its previous sittings. The proposed changes included ensuring 33pc women representation in the senate of PIFD in line with the Prime Minister Office directive for all federal bodies.

Furthermore, the new clause proposes that the appointme4nt of the vice chancellor be restricted to a four-year term with no extensions, but open to competitive re-selection.

“This will lead to transparency and credibility. We don’t want heads to be bigger than the institutions themselves. Legislation should solve problems, not create them,” the chairman remarked. She also stressed that a mandatory quarterly PIFD senate meeting must be held to maintain checks and balances. It sought a complete list of federal institutions where vice chancellors have served beyond one or two terms.

Contentious curriculum bill deferred

The committee deferred the ‘Federal Supervision of Curricula, Textbooks and Maintenance of Standards of Education (Amendments) Bill 2024’ moved by Senator Quratul Ain Marri after extensive debate on sensitive aspects, particularly age limits for reproductive health education.

Kamran Murtaza and Gurdeep Singh opposed it unconditionally.

Other members suggested amendments, including setting the age for reproductive health education at 13 or 16 years, respecting cultural sentiments and local context.

Some members, including Afnanullah and Fawzia Arshad, proposed suggestions that will try and incorporate in meetings with education ministry.

Senator Quratul Ain Marri said it is very unfortunate that a bill aimed at giving our children basic education is being opposed, Dawn.com reported.

“Today we can’t control what kids see on social media. Better we provide them structured, approved information. But sadly some senators can’t see it,” she said.

The chairperson before deferring bill said: “The intention is clear: to curb child abuse, misinformation on the internet and ensure that ‘reproductive health education’ equips children with accurate knowledge about their physical, mental and social well-being.”

Meanwhile, in a briefing, the directorate general of Special Education presented its current roles, functions and ongoing projects. The committee reiterated the urgent need to table a comprehensive policy draft for special education, lamenting that the sector still operates under outdated legislation predating the 18th Amendment.

The committee discussed financial allocations of Rs950.364 million in the fiscal year 2023-24 for special education with its expenditures standing at Rs886.614 million and the deficit at Rs63.75 million.

In financial year, 2024-25, the grant was Rs726.008 million, expenditure Rs840.753 million with a deficit of Rs114.745 million.

However, the committee was told that for the fiscal year 2025-26 the requirement was Rs1,436 million and allocation was Rs788.188 million. The committee was told that institutions under DGSE included the National Special Education Centres for Visually Handicapped, Physically Handicapped, Hearing Impaired Children and the Rehabilitation Centre for Children with Developmental Disorders.

Published in Dawn, July 8th, 2025