The federal government has proposed a significant allocation of funds for the education and health sectors in budget 2024-25.
For the education sector, Rs 93 billion has been earmarked and Rs 27 billion was allocated for healthcare.
The budget includes significant investments in various educational initiatives. Rs 25.75 billion has been set aside for the Federal Ministry of Education. The allocated budget for this ministry marks a 204 percent increase from the previous year. The previous year’s allocation for this ministry was Rs 8.50 billion. Of this allocation, Rs 2 billion is for the Pakistan National Endowment Fund. The amount for Daanish schools in Azad Jammu Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan has been increased from Rs. 500 million to Rs. 5 billion.
Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb in his budget speech announced that the government has implemented various measures, including improving infrastructure and educational facilities in 167 schools in the federal capital, to ensure quality education for young people. Additionally, a school meal program will be initiated in which healthy meals in 200 primary schools in the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) will be provided to support the physical and mental development of students, the minister informed.
Emphasizing the importance of digital literacy, the minister said that the government will provide schools with tablets, internet access, Chromebooks, and smart screens, besides introducing digital interventions and blended learning. Furthermore, digital libraries will be established to promote cultural education and research. The government also plans to transform 16-degree colleges in the capital city into result-oriented training institutes in collaboration with renowned universities such as NUST, NUML, NSU, and COMSATS.
These institutes will offer six-month courses to enhance employment opportunities for youth. The government is also introducing an education voucher scheme for students enrolled in private sector schools to grant access to quality education for underprivileged students. Similarly, Early Childhood Education (ECE) centers will be set up in 100 schools to provide a solid educational foundation for young children.
There is also an amount allocated for pink buses to facilitate the transportation of female students from rural areas to the city. As per the Prime Minister’s directive, the Daanish Schools project will be expanded to Islamabad, Baluchistan, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and Gilgit Baltistan. Meanwhile, the Higher Education Commission (HEC) has been allocated a development budget of Rs 66.31 billion. The government will improve facilities in 166 public schools in Islamabad to provide students with modern educational resources.
The government strives to expand the education scholarship program by adding one million more children, bringing the total beneficiaries to 10.4 million. In the healthcare sector, the budget includes a proposal to construct the Quaid-e-Azam Health Tower at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) in Islamabad.
While Rs 27 billion was earmarked for the Ministry of National Health Services and Regulations. In 2023-24 the government initially earmarked Rs 13.1 billion for the health sector which was revised down to Rs 13.09 billion. The allocation in budget 2024-25 is a twofold increase over the revised health budget 2023-24.
(By Rana Kashif)
