Latest news with #Honhar
Express Tribune
16-06-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Education sector gets 24% of non-development budget
The Punjab government has allocated 24.4 per cent of the non-development budget for the financial year 2025-26 to the education sector. The government allocated Rs148 billion for the development of the sector, marking a 137% hike over last year, and Rs661 billion for non-development expenses. The allocation pertains to the school, higher and literacy and non-formal education departments. The budget includes allocations for the laptop scheme and Honhar scholarship programme in addition to provision of facilities and construction of hostels, libraries and computer labs. The government allocated Rs15 billion for the scholarship programme. The allocation last year was of Rs4.5 billion. According to the budget documents, it plans to distribute 112,000 laptops among students during the year through an allocation of Rs15.1 billion for the CM Punjab Laptop Scheme. Last year, Rs37 billion had been allocated for the scheme and 40,000 students had benefitted do far. In the annual budget, the Punjab government has introduced the Punjab Education Initiative Management Authority ( PEIMA) and allocated Rs40 billion for the construction of new classrooms, IT labs, upgrade of school buildings and provision of facilities. The government also allocated Rs4 billion for outsourcing government schools during the year. An allocation of Rs5 billion has been proposed to check the drop out ratio from government schools. The Punjab government allocated Rs5 billion for a project to set up 'schools of eminence' of international standard and Rs3 billion to expand establishment of centres of excellence of early childhood education. It allocated Rs35 billion for the Punjab Education Foundation to support low-income private schools for educating needy children. In addition, Rs3.7 billion has been allocated for the Punjab Education Curriculum Training and Assessment Authority ( PECTA) and Rs6 billion for the CM School Meal Programme, for which Rs7 billion had been spent last year. The allocations include Rs2 billion for constructing eight government associate colleges for girls and the same amount for digital labs in public sector colleges. An allocation of Rs25 billion has been proposed for higher education along with Rs2 billion for the construction of Mian Nawaz Sharif Engineering and Technology University in Kasur. In the coming year, Rs5 billions will be allocated for special education, while Rs1.8 billions will be spent on providing transport services in special education schools.
Express Tribune
30-05-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
CM unveils education, uplift initiatives in South Punjab
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif unveiled a series of significant development and education initiatives during a ceremony in Layyah on Thursday, where she distributed laptops and Honhar scholarship cheques. In her address, the CM announced the establishment of a medical college in Layyah and allocated Rs3 billion for the development of universities in Dera Ghazi Khan and Layyah. She also declared the creation of the Nawaz Sharif Centre of Excellence for Early Childhood Education in both cities. Highlighting her commitment to educational reform, the CM announced a massive Rs110 billion plan to provide basic facilitiesclassrooms, toilets, and clean waterto all schools in Punjab within a year. "No school in Punjab will be deprived of essential facilities," she said. Maryam Nawaz also lauded the Pakistan Army's success in Operation Bunyanum Marsoos, extending congratulations to Army Chief Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir and Air Chief Babar Zaheer Sindhu. She paid tribute to the sacrifices of military personnel, emphasising national unity and youth empowerment. "The youth must become a fortress for Pakistan. If they stand strong, no force can defeat us," she stated. "I want every hardworking student to feel supported. If parents lack resources, the state must act like a mother." The Honhar scholarship amount was raised from Rs30, to Rs50,000, and the number of distributed laptops increased to 100,000. "These are your rights, not favours," she told the students. Concluding her address, she urged youth to reject sedition and uphold national values. "Those who lead youth astray have abandoned them. Let us stand with development, unity, and the dignity of our institutions." Earlier, the CM met with the outgoing Country Director of the World Bank, Najy Benhassine, reaffirming the province's long-standing partnership with the international financial institution and paying tribute to his contributions since assuming the role in 2020. During the meeting held in Lahore, the Chief Minister warmly welcomed Benhassine and praised his efforts in strengthening development cooperation between the World Bank and Pakistan, particularly Punjab.
