Balochistan increases education budget to Rs. 144 billion, announces 3,000 new posts

QUETTA, Jun 17 (APP): The Balochistan government has significantly enhanced allocations for the education sector in the provincial budget for fiscal year 2026-27, raising the combined budget for school and higher education from Rs. 125 billion to Rs. 144 billion, marking a 15 percent increase.

Presenting the budget in the Balochistan Assembly, Provincial Finance Minister Mir Shoaib Nosherwani said that education remains the government’s top priority, with a focus on expanding access to quality learning across the province. He announced the creation of 3,000 new posts in the School Education Department to strengthen teaching capacity and improve service delivery.

According to budget details, Rs. 115 billion has been earmarked for school education, while Rs. 12 billion has been allocated under the development budget. A special provision of Rs. 8 billion has been made for upgrading primary schools to middle level and middle schools to high schools. Cluster budget allocations have been raised from Rs. 2.5 billion to Rs. 2.9 billion, supported by a new transparent policy to ensure effective utilization.

The minister also announced one-time grants for schools in various districts, including Rs. 10 million for Balida Foundation School and Rs. 20 million for Education Foundation. To support employees, the death compensation grant has been increased from Rs. 30 million to Rs. 100 million. Scholarships have also been expanded, with Rs. 14 million allocated under the Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Scholarship program for school education.

In higher education, allocations for colleges and technical education have been raised from Rs. 24 billion to Rs. 28 billion under the non-development budget. Public sector universities will continue to receive Rs. 8 billion, with an additional Rs. 2 billion performance-based funding tied to key performance indicators. Scholarships worth Rs. 105.8 million have been earmarked for college students, including Rs. 54 million under the Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Scholarship program.

To address institutional needs, Rs. 1 billion has been allocated as a grant for colleges, Rs. 1 billion for buses, and Rs. 200 million to support NUST University in overcoming financial challenges. The development budget for colleges has been set at Rs. 2.3 billion, while the non-development budget stands at Rs. 28.7 billion.

Minister Nosherwani emphasized that modern education is essential for social and economic progress, noting that higher education equips youth with skills, independence, and the ability to contribute meaningfully to society. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring access to quality education for all citizens of Balochistan.