The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government has allocated Rs. 91.97 billion for Education Affairs and Services in the federal budget for 2021-22 presented in the National Assembly today.
The increase in Education Affairs and Services is by 4 percent against the revised allocation of Rs. 88.09 billion for the current fiscal year.
The public expenditure of the country on education as a percentage of GDP is estimated at 1.5 percentage in the outgoing fiscal year 2020-21, which is the lowest in the region.
ALSO READ
Telecom Sector Rejects New Taxes Imposed on Calls, SMS and Internet
The government has embarked bulk of expenditure of Rs. 78.195 billion for Tertiary Education Affairs and Services in budget 2021-22, which is 85 percent of the total allocation under this head.
Rs. 3.021 billion has been allocated for pre-Primary and Primary Education Affairs for 2021-22 against Rs. 2.931 billion for 2020-21, Rs. 7.632 billion earmarked for Secondary Education Affairs and Services for 2021-22 against Rs. 7.355 billion for 2020-21, and Rs. 1.915 billion for administration against Rs. 1.237 billion for 2020-21, which was later revised to Rs. 1.608 billion.
After the 18th Constitutional amendment, education as the subject has been devolved to provinces, and the Federal Government mainly finances higher education.
The government has increased the budgetary allocation for the higher education sector from Rs. 29.470 billion in 2020-21 to Rs. 42.450 billion for the next fiscal year.
ALSO READ
Govt Introduces New Taxes on Per Calls, SMS, Reduces Tax on Recharge [Update]
According to the budget documents, Rs. 42.450 billion has been earmarked for Higher Education Commission (HEC) under the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) for 2021-22 against Rs 29.470 billion for 2020-21. In addition to this, Rs. 66.250 billion has been earmarked for HEC under the head of expenditure.