FDE seeks Rs230 million for school, college bus service.

ISLAMABAD -- The Federal Directorate of Education (FDE) through the Ministry of Federal Education has sought a Rs230 million additional budget from the federal government for the smooth functioning of its bus service for students of schools and colleges.

Through a letter, the FDE recently requested the education ministry for the additional grant. The FDE stated that in the fiscal year 2021-22 the expense incurred on the bus service was Rs342 million and an almost same amount would be required in the current fiscal year. However, the letter said, for the current fiscal year only Rs122 million were allocated which were inadequate.

Therefore, the FDE requested the ministry for the additional grant of Rs230 million, which will be spent on petrol/diesel, repair and maintenance of the buses and payment of salaries to 174 drivers and 196 conductors.

A source in the education ministry said that the ministry had been trying its best to get the required funds for the FDE for the bus service.

Without passing financial burden to students, ministry will ensure smooth functioning of bus service, says official

Earlier this month, the ministry of education after barring the FDE from charging any new fee had decided to provide Rs100 million immediately to the directorrate. It was also decided that the ministry will move a summary to the Ministry of Finance for the release of funds.

'We are cognizant of the issue and surely will provide the required funds to the FDE,' said Additional Secretary (AS) Education Waseem Ajmal Chaudhry.

He said the ministry will arrange funds for the FDE from its own account and in the meanwhile the finance ministry will be requested for release of the additional grant.

Mr Chaudhry, who held several meetings on the issue a few weeks ago, said that without passing financial burden to the students and...