Punjab gets only 11.2pc for higher education under PSDP

ISLAMABAD: Although opposition politicians are accusing the government of making a Punjab-centric budget, the province has been given only 11.2 % share in development budget under the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) for higher education despite its highest number of public sector universities. 

 According to the budget document Balochistan will get 15.387%  share in higher education uplift budget during the fiscal year 2016-17 while Kyber Pkahtunkhwa (KP) would get 14.28 %. Punjab with its Punjab with its 27 universities  and 23 sub campuses will get only 6 new projects worth Rs610 million.

Balochistan will get Rs835 million for its seven public sector universities while KP will get Rs 775 million for its 20 universities and four sub campuses. Sindh received lowest share in higher education development budget which is 3.96% of the total allocated amount. The province has 20 universities and six sub campuses but it would get only Rs215 million for two new projects. Federal government has allocated Rs 21.487 billion for the Higher Education Commission for the fiscal year 2016-17 in the Public Sector Development Programme as compared to 20.500 billion from last year.

Out of the total allocated amount for development schemes, federal universities will get 10.93% share while 44.18% allocations of PSDP budget were made for HEC’s own supervised projects. The federal capital and AJK  with 30 public sector universities will get 7 new projects worth Rs593 million while HEC will receive Rs2397.981 million for its 9 new schemes.

According to budget document, major portion of development budget for higher education has been given to Higher Education Commission (HEC) and federal universities and while 45% of the uplift fund have been allocated for 74 provincial universities with 34 campuses in all four provinces. 

In view of inflation rate, there is no significant increase in development budget for higher education as development budget is spent on new infrastructure projects , new campuses, strengthening of existing facilities,  scholarships etc. sector universities with 67 campuses.

According the document, a total amount of Rs. 5.4261 billion has been earmarked for the 39 new schemes in higher education sector. The number of development schemes have been decreased from 57 in 2015-16 and 54 from 2014-15. Like previous years, out of total 39 projects, only 4 projects are approved. According to the higher education experts, in this case, it is not sure that all the allocated funds may be utilized.

According to Public Sector Development Programme (PDSP) 2016-17, 39  new projects worth Rs 5426.631 million have been included in the upcoming budget for HEC but majority of the projects have been approved for the commission’s own schemes. The four approved schemes includes Establishment of Technology Development Fund for HEC scholars, Establishment of University of Central Asia of Pakistan Islamabad, Innovation Centre and Software Park at University of Engineering & Technology Sub-campus Lahore and Post Doctoral Fellowship Program Phase II (HEC).    

According to  recent QS Higher Education System Strength Rankings 2016 , Pakistani higher education system has been ranked at bottom  with 9.2 score  as compared to  China 83.5, South Korea 80.1, Singapore 62.3, India 60.9 and United Arab Emirates’ 10.9 scores.