LAHORE: The Punjab government has allocated a record Rs 750 billion for the education sector in the provincial budget for the financial year 2026-27, earmarking over 15 percent of the total proposed budget for academic development, signaling an unprecedented commitment to transforming the province’s educational landscape.
Of the total education budget, more than Rs 686 billion has been allocated under the non-development head to meet recurring expenditures, while over Rs 63 billion has been set aside under the development budget for new initiatives and infrastructure projects across the province.
Among the flagship initiatives, the government has allocated Rs 27 billion for the distribution of more than one hundred thousand laptops under the Chief Minister Punjab Laptop Scheme, aimed at bridging the digital divide and equipping students with modern technological tools. Another Rs 4 billion has been earmarked for the Honhar Programme to identify and support talented and deserving students from across Punjab.
In the area of special education, the government, which established the province’s first Autism School in 2025-26, has now allocated more than Rs 4 billion in the current budget for the establishment of Autism Schools in every district of Punjab, ensuring that children with special needs have access to dedicated educational facilities closer to home.
To modernise higher and technical education, more than Rs 6 billion has been earmarked for the establishment of IT laboratories in 244 colleges across the province. The government has also set aside more than Rs 40 billion for the establishment of Maryam Nawaz Sharif Centres of Excellence, Nawaz Sharif Centres of Excellence, and STEAM Laboratories, with the aim of fostering innovation, scientific thinking, and research-driven learning environments throughout Punjab.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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