ISLAMABAD: The government has earmarked Rs 91.97 billion for the education affairs and services in the federal budget for 2021-22 against the revised allocation of Rs 88.09 billion for the current fiscal year, showing an increase of around four percent.

Pakistan's public expenditure on education as percentage to GDP is estimated at 1.5 percentage in fiscal year 2020-21, which is the lowest in the region.

The bulk of expenditure of Rs 78.195 billion has been allocated for tertiary education affairs and services in the budget 2021-22, which is 85 percent of the total allocation under this head.

The government has earmarked Rs 3.021 billion 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, 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 subject has been devolved to the provinces, and the federal government mainly finances the higher education.

According to the budget documents, Rs 42.450 billion has been earmarked for the Higher Education Commission (HEC) under the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) for 2021-22 against Rs 29.470 billion for 2020-21. Further, Rs 66.250 billion has been earmarked for the HEC under the head of expenditure.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2021