The Punjab government has begun privatizing public colleges after transferring thousands of schools to private management, triggering strong backlash from teachers’ associations province-wide. In the first phase, 100 of the province’s 750 public colleges — including both commerce colleges in Rawalpindi — are being outsourced.
Officials say this move follows the transfer of 12,500 schools under the ongoing privatization program. Starting November 1, an additional 7,000 primary and middle schools, along with several high and higher secondary institutions, will be outsourced. Schools with fewer than 100 enrolled students will be prioritized, and staffing will be based on student numbers.
Punjab Education Minister Rana Sikandar Hayat defended the decision, arguing the government cannot justify spending Rs. 300,000 per student annually at commerce colleges. He said the province will establish modern commerce institutions equipped with advanced labs and around 400 computers to upgrade learning quality.
The initiative aims to complete full privatization of schools and colleges by March 31, 2026, ahead of the new academic year. However, teachers’ unions have strongly opposed the plan and announced protests, strikes, and sit-ins across Punjab to halt the privatization drive.
