Government Decides to Decrease Education Budget by 1.5 percent

Despite HEC's demand in an increase of the education budget, the government has decided to cut costs.

In the federal budget for 2022-23, the government has allocated Rs. 90.556 billion for Education Affairs and Services, a fall of roughly 1.5 percent from the revised estimate of Rs. 91.970 billion for the current fiscal year.

Pakistan's public education spending as a proportion of GDP is expected to be 1.7 percent in fiscal year 2021-22, down from 1.9 percent the previous fiscal year, the lowest in the region.

Following the 18th Amendment, the Federal Government has primarily been funding higher learning, with education being divided between different regions.

In budget 2022-23, Rs. 74.609 billion has been set aside for Tertiary Education Affairs and Services, accounting for 83 percent of the total allocation under this sector.

For 2022-23, the government has set aside Rs. 3.786 billion for pre-primary and primary education, compared to Rs. 3.021 billion in 2021-22, Rs. 8.863 billion for secondary education affairs and services, compared to Rs. 7.632 billion in 2021-22, and Rs. 2 billion for administration, compared to Rs. 1.915 billion in 2021-22, which was later changed to Rs. 2.028 billion.

As per revenues and expenditures, the Higher Education Commission (HEC) will receive Rs. 44.174 billion under the Public Sector Development Program (PSDP) in 2022-23, compared to Rs. 42.450 billion in 2021-22, which was later decreased downward to Rs. 26.338 billion. A further Rs. 65 billion has been allotted for this purpose.