A new government-linked report has mapped how education funding is distributed across Pakistan, showing that provinces remain the main financiers of the sector under the country’s devolved governance structure.
The findings are part of the 171-page Public Financing in Education 2025–26 report released by the Pakistan Institute of Education (PIE).
The report breaks down education budget allocations by province and region for 2023–24 and also examines how much each government prioritizes education within its overall spending.
According to the report, Punjab accounted for the largest share of the country’s education budget at 37%. Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) followed, each contributing 21%.
The federal government made up 10% of total allocations, with the report attributing this largely to higher education and administrative functions. Balochistan accounted for 7%, while Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and Gilgit Baltistan (GB) contributed 3% and 1%, respectively.
The PIE report also compares education’s share within each government’s total expenditure. It states that KP showed the strongest commitment over the past four years, averaging 25% and rising to 27% in 2023–24. AJK recorded an average of 24%, while the federal government allocated only 1% of its total budget to education, both on average and in 2023–24.
While the report points to nominal increases in education spending, it notes that overall education expenditure remains below international benchmarks and highlights the need for improved utilization and transparency to ensure funding translates into better outcomes.
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