Punjab govt allocates Rs391b for education sector.

LAHORE -- The Punjab government allocated more than Rs 391 billion for the education sector for fiscal year 2020-21. The allocations include Rs 357 billion for ongoing regular expenditures, and Rs 34.5 billion for development schemes. According to the budget document, funds amounting to Rs 350 billion have been allocated for School Education Department (SED), of which Rs 27.6 billion has been earmarked as development budget for the year.

For ongoing schemes, Rs 600 million have been allocated for SED whereas four billion rupees for new schemes. Similarly, Rs 23 billion has been allocated for other development programme (ODP).

Provision of scholarships to more than Rs 0.5 million school girls and free syllabus books to all students would be made from this allocation.

As much as Rs. 13.5 billion has been allocated for school councils, and three billion rupees for educational expenses of Daanish Schools in the budget proposals. Rs 22 billion has been allocated for the Punjab Education Foundation (PEF) and Punjab Education Initiative Management Authority(PEIMA) under public private partnership. Projects of upgradation of schools, construction of additional class rooms, establishment of computer labs and reconstruction of dilapidated buildings have also been included in the proposals. The provincial government had already upgraded 1,227 elementary schools to high...