Mian Mujtaba Shuja-ur-Rehman Highlights Education Budget Initiatives

Provincial Finance Minister, Mian Mujtaba Shuja-ur-Rehman, stated during his budget speech in Punjab Assembly, that extensive investments were being made in the education sector, and with a great emphasis being given to academic and student support activities. Here he confessed that the allocation of a great quantity of Rs. 661 billion is spent on non-developmental expenses of the Education Department. This is inclusive of salaries, the operating costs, as well as the maintenance of institutions within the province ensuring the orderly running of schools, colleges and universities.

Besides incurring administrative costs, the government is giving highest priority to student welfare and academic excellence. According to Mian Mujtaba Shuja-ur-Rehman, scholarship on merit will cost the government Rs. 15 billion which will be used to lure hardworking and bright students across Punjab. These scholarships will enable the needy students to gain high education without straining financially.

Moreover, the sum of Rs. 4.5 billion shall be spent to give the students especially the less privileged students pocket money so that they may be able to attend school without worrying about their financial status. This action is the indication of how the government strives to facilitate equal access to education.

Chief Minister Laptop Scheme was also one of the important initiatives in the speech. With the acquisition issued under this program, 112,000 laptops will be distributed among students, which will assist them in acquiring digital learning. In this scheme, the amount of money allocated is Rs. 27 billion on behalf of the university students, and there is 10 billion on behalf of college students. This investment works to digitally bridge the gap of students and equip them with the needs of the modern technology in both education and employment.

These steps reveal how the Punjab government is very strategic in empowering the youth with education and will have an added digital literate and skilled population which are knowledgeable and capable of progressing the province in terms of growth.