LAHORE: The Punjab government has allocated Rs52.5 billion total development budget for school and higher education departments in the financial year 2022-23.

Out of total Rs52.5bn development expenditure for education sector, Rs39bn was set aside for different schemes in schools, including Rs500 million for reconstruction of dangerous buildings in Punjab, Rsibn for construction of additional classrooms in schools, Rs3.84bn for afternoon schools programme, Rs1.5bn for Daanish schools and centres of excellence authority, Rs4.8bn for imparting education through outsourcing of public schools (PEIMA), Rs21.5bn for imparting education through private participation (PEF), Rs500m for provision of missing facilities in schools and Rs500m for construction of shelterless schools in Punjab.

The government has earmarked Rs421.06bn for school education department (SED), including Rs382.06bn for nondevelopment expenditure.The government has specified Rs13.50bn development expenditure of higher education for financial year 202223.

Out of this Rs13.50bn, a sum of Rs800m would be spent on establishment of Khwaja Fareed University of Engineering and Information Technology, Rahim Yar Khan, Rs2bn on provision of classrooms along with furniture to graduate and associate colleges, Rsibn on establishment of campus of Punjab University in Daska city, Rs1.05bn on provision of missing facilities to colleges, Rs2bn on establishment of Waris Shah University at Sheikhupura, Rs2bn on establishment of University of Chunian, Kasur, Rs700m on Punjab Education Endowment Fund (PEEF), Rs999.9m on construction of building of Muhammad Nawaz Sharif University of Engineering and Technology (MNS UET), Multan, and Rs1.5bn on provision of laptops to the position holders.

The government has allocated Rs59.07bn for higher education including Rs45.57bn for non-development expenditure.