In the recently announced 202526 federal budget, the federal government of Pakistan has allotted Rs39.5 billion to the Higher Education Commission (HEC) to help in the development of academics and institutional infrastructure across Pakistan.
Official budget documents show that Rs29.5 billion has been allocated to continuation of projects in higher education and Rs10 billion has been allocated to new projects. The areas financed are the expansion of the universities, research grants, and creation of IT infrastructure within the educational institutions.
This allocation is in the wake of increasing questions about quality of education, brain drain and poor funding in universities. According to the officials, the increment is aimed at transforming the outdated systems and accessibility of higher education in Pakistan.
HEC was provided with Rs35.8 billion last year, which many educationists claimed was below the requirements of the sector. The Rs3.7 billion increase in the current year budget, though a welcome relief, has not gone without criticism by interested parties who opine that it is not commensurate with the needs of a high growth student population.
The government added that this budgetary increase shows its determination to invest in young people, digital learning and innovation. The real effects will however be determined by the level of transparency and efficiency in which the money will be disbursed.
