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QUETTA, Dec 06 (APP): The Balochistan Textbook Board has achieved unprecedented financial savings of approximately Rs1.25 billion by ensuring transparency in textbook printing tenders for the academic year 2026.
Under the vision of Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Khan Bugti and Provincial Minister for Education Raheela Hameed Khan Durrani, and the directives of Education Secretary Asfandyar Khan, the Balochistan Textbook Board successfully reduced printing costs while increasing the number of textbooks produced. Chairman Ghulab Khan Kakar and Secretary Niaz Khan Tareen oversaw the process.
According to departmental data, 9.25 million textbooks were printed in 2023–24 at a cost of Rs2.12 billion. For the 2024–25 academic year, 9.3 million textbooks were printed at a cost of Rs1.08 billion. In contrast, for 2025–26, the department printed a record 11.5 million textbooks at a cost of just Rs883.1 million—an unprecedented reduction in expenditure.
This year’s per-page printing cost was reduced to 0.65 paisa, the lowest among all provinces. By comparison, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa recorded a cost of 0.79 paisa per page.
The Directorate of Schools reported demand for 11.5 million textbooks in 2025–26, an increase of 2.2 million from the previous year. This surge is attributed to the activation of nearly 4,000 previously non-functional schools and the recruitment of more than 10,000 new teachers.
Under the National Curriculum of Pakistan 2022–23, new textbooks from primary to intermediate levels have been developed. These include Nazra, Computer Education, Environmental and Climate Awareness,Health and Physical Education, Citizenship and Ethics
All textbooks underwent rigorous review by internal and provincial committees, followed by two additional evaluation stages on the instructions of the Education Secretary.
Looking ahead, English medium textbooks will be prioritized for publication. To improve quality, bleach card paper will replace books board paper, and unnecessary content has been removed to streamline coursework and reduce burdens on teachers and students.
Officials emphasized that the model of transparent tendering, reduced costs, and improved quality will continue in the coming years, ensuring sustainable progress in education across Balochistan.